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To  My  Sister 

EMMA  SERVICE  LESTER 

In  Her 

beautiful  Chinese  Garden 

Far  oAcross  the  ^lue  Pacific 


The 
blossom  Circle  of  the  Year 

In  Southern  (gardens 


By 
Julia  Lester  Dillon 


''And  the  Spring  arose  on  the  garden  fair. 
Like  the  spirit  of  Love  felt  every  where\ 
And  each  flower  and  herb  on  earth's  dark  breast 
Rose  from  the  dreams  of  its  wintry  rest." 

— SlIRLLEY. 


New  York,  N.Y. 

A.  T.  De  La  Mare  Company,  Inc. 

1922 


A 


Copyright,  1922,  by 
A.  T.  De  La  Mare  Company,  Inc. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

Preface 1 1 

I.  The  Hopes  and  Joys  of  Garden  Making 13 

II.  Broad-Leaved  Evergreens — For  Every  Garden 19 

III.  Ornamental  Hedge  Plants — For  Every  Gardener 35 

IV.  Azaleas  and  Camellias — For  All  Who  Love  Them 47 

V.  Coniferous  Evergreens — For  Beauty  and  Accent 57 

VI.  Old-Fashioned  Roses — How  to  Grow  Them 67 

VII.  Making  a  Rose  Garden — To  Live  In  and  Love 75 

VIII.  March    Activities — The    Beginning    of    the    Summer 

Garden 85 

IX.  April  Leaves  From  My  Garden  Book 93 

X.  May  Work— For  Fall  Glory 101 

XI.  Taking  Stock  of  the   Garden — Under  June's  Sunny 

Skies 109 

XII.  July  Planning — For  Permanent  Effects 115 

XIII.  Fighting  the  Midsummer  Pests 123 

XIV.  Dependable  Perennials — When  to  Plant  Them 133 

XV.  October  Glories— And  October  Work 141 

XVI.  Sweet  Peas — For  Spring  Blossoming 147 

XVII.  Satisfactory  Deciduous  Shrubs — For  All  the  Year 151 

XVIII.  Vines — For  Cottage  and  for  Mansion 159 

XIX.  The  Making  and  Care  of  Southern  Lawns 171 

XX.  Flowering  Trees  For  All  Seasons 179 

XXL      Conclusion — Devoutly  Hoped  For 191 

Index 197 


11707 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

{See  page  196  for  index  of  garden  owners  or  sites) 

A  garden  of  the  New  South  where  every  prospect  pleases Frontispiece 

Page 

An  old-fashioned  garden 15 

Something  different  that  only  the  South  can  enjoy 16 

The  orange  berries  of  the  evergreen  Hawthorn 19 

Hardy,  beautiful  and  useful  are  the  Holly-leaved  Barberry  and  the  English 

Laurel • 21 

Japanese  Holly,  known  to  botanists  as  Ilex  crenata 22 

Abelia  grandiflora  is  one  of  the  best  foundation  plantings 25 

Evergreen    Hawthorn    and    Heavenly    Bamboo,    always    distinctive,    are 

especially  pleasing  in  their  Winter  dress  of  berries 26 

Kalmia  latifolia,  the  Mountain  Laurel. 28 

English  Laurel  in  all  its  beauty  and  usefulness 29 

The  starry  Oleander  blossom 30 

Euphorbia,  curious  but  attractive,  too 31 

A  splendid  Live  Oak 32 

Clipped  standards  of  Wild  Olive  give  distinction  to  this  Ligustrum  amu- 

rense  hedge 35 

A  double  hedge  for  both  privacy  and  appearance 37 

A  hedge  beneath  a  row  of  trees • 38 

Tree  Boxwood  as  it  grows  in  Maryland 39 

For  a  dense  hedge  keep  the  bottom  wider  than  the  top 41 

Old  subjects  and  new  in  an  old-time  garden 42 

Juniperus  virginiana  behind  Ligustrum  amurense  makes  a  soft  but  very 

effective  screen 43 

A  useful  hedge  planting. 44 

Boxwood  edging  just  six  years  old 44 

A  "close  up"  side-view  of  a  well-formed  hedge 45 

Twin  Cypresses  accent  this  garden  entrance 46 

True  harmony  of  both  color  and  form 49 

Azalea  Kaempferi,  a  valuable  Japanese  accession 50 

The  deciduous,  flame-colored  Azalea,  A.  calendulacea 52 

Camellias — rare  jewels  of  southern  gardening 54 

Effective  use  of  conifers  on  a  formal  terrace 56 

A  happy  grouping  of  Cypresses  and  Pines 56 

The  exquisite  softness  of  Japanese  Cypresses 59 

A  California  setting  in  a  Georgia  suburb 60 

Chamaecyparis  pisifera  plumosa 63 

8 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  9 

.                       ,   .                                                                                             Page 
Junipers  and  Retinisporas  are  good  standbys  in  all  coniferous  groups 64 

Climbing  Roses  and  clinging  vines 66 

Frau  Karl  Druschki,  the  handsomest  of  all  white  Roses 67 

Caroline  Testout  Roses  in  the  author's  garden 68 

Radiance,  a  silvery-pink  hybrid  tea 69 

Grass  walks  and  narrow  beds  help  any  Rose  garden 71 

Roses  are  not  uncommon  in  the  South,  but  there  should  be  more  of  them .   72 

Lady  Banksia  Roses  are  at  home  only  in  the  warmer  sections 76 

The  popular  Polyantha  or  Baby  Rambler  type 77 

A  real  Rose  garden,  as  beautiful  as  it  is  rare 78 

A  rough  stone  wall  and  deeply  recessed  stairway  draped  with  Silver  Moon 

Roses '. 82 

White  Cherokees  on  brick  walls 83 

When  Spring  comes  to  "Winterholme" 84 

White  blossoms  of  flowering  Peach  trees 87 

The  golden-yellow  blooms  of  Jasminum  nudiflorum 88 

The  wild  Rosa  setigera,  unlike  the  Cherokee,  has  deciduous  foliage 90 

African  Daisies  of  French  gray  with  deep  blue  centers 91 

A  velvety  green  carpet  and  formal  beds  edged  with  box 92 

Iris  in  the  garden  border 97 

When  the  Shirley  Poppies  bloom 98 

Pansies  and  Spanish  Iris 100 

Yucca  filamentosa  is  wonderful  in  May 103 

A  beautified  kitchen  entrance  and  service  path 104 

Petunias  and  Larkspur  made  this  garden  gay  for  weeks  and  weeks 107 

Daisies  are  beautiful  whether  wild  or  tame 108 

June  opens  the  tresses  of  the  perennial  Phlox 110 

A  most  effective  Summer  flowering  hedge  is  Hydrangea  paniculata  grandi- 

flora Ill 

Hydrangea  effectively  used  in  another  way 112 

Good  foundation  plantings — while  they  last 115 

Boxwood  for  accent,  turf  for  edging  and  perennials  for  color 116 

The  wild  Cactus  (Opuntia)  of  meadows  and  woodlots .^ 119 

Too  much  planting  for  so  little  space 120 

Neriums  (Oleanders)  should  be  in  bloom  in  July 121 

Bamboo  fittingly  used  in  a  Georgia  garden 124 

Midsummer  in  the  author's  garden 127 

Railroad  stations  are  essential,  why  not  make  them  attractive  ? 129 

One  of  the  showiest  perennials  for  massing 132 

The  beautifying  effect  of  growing  plants 135 

Cannas  used  to  good  effect  in  California 136 

Peony  growing  for  eastern  flower  markets 139 

Chrysanthemums — reigning  flowers  of  the  Fall 142 

The  charm  of  horticultural  simplicity 143 


10  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Page 

A  bird's-eye  view  of  Sweet  Peas  as  grown  at  Bryan,  Texas 146 

Prolonging  the  garden  season 148 

The  charm  of  Sweet  Peas  in  the  home 149 

Jasminum  nudiflorum,  earliest  of  Spring  flowers 153 

Deutzia  gracilis  makes  its  debut  later  than  the  Spiraeas 154 

All  the  Viburnums  are  showy,  hardy,  and  satisfactory  shrubs 157 

A  living  mirror  to  multiply  the  garden's  charms 158 

Rosa  de  Montana  or  Coral  Vine 159 

Rose  vines  are  never  more  charming  than  on  a  pergola  terrace 160 

Young  vines  on  an  old  house — but  you'd  never  know  it '. 161 

Graceful  garlands  of  Virginia  Creeper 162 

Ivy  is  a  most  appropriate  drapery  for  a  sundial 164 

Star  Jasmine  and  Cherokee  Roses 165 

Ampelopsis  Veitchii,  the  familiar  Boston  Ivy 166 

Charming  screens  of  white  Wistaria  and  Clematis  paniculata 169 

Euonymus  radicans  effective  in  an  unusual  role 170 

A  perfect  sod  of  Italian  Rye  Grass 173 

Bermuda  Grass  makes  the  only  satisfactory  southern  Summer  lawns 174 

Yet  many  claim  that  a  lawn  cannot  be  made  under  trees! 175 

Shady  lawns  in  a  southern  park 176 

A  pleasant  expanse  of  lawn  well  placed 178 

Syringa  japonica  in  all  its  Spring  loveliness 181 

What  Dogwood  can  do  to  a  hillside 182 

Good  effects  close  by  and  far  away 185 

Magnolia  blossoms  produce  an  effect  that  is  almost  unbelievable 186 

Eriobotrya  japonica,  the  Japanese  Medlar,  at  Brooksville,  Fla. 188 

The  historic  Cornwallis  Oak 190 

A  real  southern  homestead  in  a  worthy  setting 193 

Have  you  a  view  like  this  ? 194 


PREFACE 

npHE  women  of  all  the  South  are  now  thoroughly  awakened 
to  their  responsibility  and  opportunity,  not  only  in  the 
matter  of  conservation,  but  also  in  that  of  education  and  of  the 
development  of  the  garden  and  landscape  work  of  both  the  cities 
and  the  rural  districts.  These  women  are  planting  their  school 
grounds  and  courthouse  squares,  municipal  parks,  and  railroad 
stations;  they  are  organizing  garden  clubs;  they  are  working  for 
a  development,  along  artistic  lines,  of  the  new  highways  that  con- 
nect the  states,  and  they  are  endeavoring  to  develop  the  farms 
until  they  become  estates  worthy  of  this  or  any  other  section. 

The  wonderful  and  varied  flora  of  the  Southern  States  oflfers 
but.  one  problem  for  garden  makers — that  of  choice.  There  is 
absolutely  no  limit  to  the  list  of  offerings  that  will  grow  and  thrive 
all  over  this  prolific  land. 

In  this  little  volume,  which  I  am  offering  the  women  who  have 
undertaken  this  noble  and  necessary  work,  I  have  grouped  the 
plant  subjects  so  that  they  may  not  only  follow  the  circle  of  the 
blossoms  around  the  year,  but  may  also  follow  the  circle  of  garden 
activities.  From  the  time  of  the  first  planting  in  November, 
through  the  long  list  of  permanent  trees,  shrubs,  conifers,  Roses, 
perennials,  evergreens  and  seeds;  through  the  making  of  the  Sum- 
mer garden;  the  fighting  of  the  pests;  the  enjoyment  of  the  Octo- 
ber glories,  until  we  reach  the  conclusion  devoutly  to  be  hoped 
for — when  every  southern  home  will  be  set  in  a  garden  and  every 
southern  farm  will  be  framed  in  green  lawns  and  well-chosen 
shrubbery — the  book  stands  for  the  practical  and  helpful  side  of 
garden  work. 


12  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

It  also  stands  for  something  higher,  which  is  the  esthetic  side 
of  landscape  work.  The  color  harmonies  have  been  carefully 
studied.  The  landscape  problems  have  been  tested  and  tried, 
and  the  illustrations  offered  are  to  show  the  best  and  most  beauti- 
ful planting  effects. 

Acknowledgment  is  made  herewith  to  House  and  Garden  and 
to  The  Florists'  Exchange  for  permission  to  use  copyright  matter; 
and  to  Mr.  Paul  C.  Lindley,  Mr.  Francis  A.  Hardy,  Mr.  Peter 
Bisset  and  many  others  for  help  in  securing  the  illustrations. 
Also  for  the  assistance  rendered  the  author  in  the  editorial 
supervision  by  Mr.  E.  L.  D.  Seymour. 

That  all  my  fellow  workers  will  find  here  the  help  they  need 
is  the  earnest  wish  of 

Julia  Lester  Dillon. 
Augusta,  Georgia. 


^Amid  my  garden  s  broiderd  paths  I  trod. 

And  there  my  mind  soon  caught  her  favorite  clue, 
I  seem'd  to  stand  amid  the  church  of  God ^ 

And  flowers  were  preachers^  and  {still  stranger)  drew 
From  their  own  life  and  course 
The  love  they  would  enforce^ 
And  sound  their  doctrine  waSy  and  every  precept  true.'' 

— EVANS. 


THE  HOPES  AND  JOYS  OF  GARDEN  MAKING  13 


CHAPTER  I 


THE  HOPES  AND  JOYS  OF  GARDEN  MAKING 

MY  memory  cannot  reach  to  the  time  when  I  was  not  inter- 
ested in  gardens  and  garden  making,  and  for  this  reason 
these  stray  leaves  from  many  gardens  have  been  gathered  from 
year  to  year,  and  from  many  sections,  and  are  presented  here  in 
the  hope  that  they  may  be  an  incentive  to  those  who  love  growing 
things  either  to  gather  in  some  new  garden  children  and  make 
them  so  much  at  home  that  they  will  become  not  like  adopted 
little  ones,  but  like  one's  very  own,  or  to  find  out  something  new 
about  the  habits  of  those  they  have  grown  up  with  and  always 
known. 

There  are  leaves  in  the  garden  book  of  memory  that  were 
gathered  in  the  sunshine  of  old  Concord;  there  are  others  that 
are  woven  into  a  Laurel  wreath  from  the  roads  that  wind  among 
those  Fern-crowned  hills  that  rise  above  the  Hudson  and  are  lost 
in  the  misty  distance  of  the  Catskills;  there  are  Palm  branches 
from  New  Orleans,  and  clusters  of  Azaleas  from  Charleston; 
there  are  scarlet  Trumpet  Vine  blossoms  that  cling  to  tall  trees 
along  the  bayous  of  Louisiana,  and  white  Roses  from  the  door- 
yards  of  the  Tennessee  mountaineers,  and  everywhere  there  has 
been  beauty  and  sweetness  and  light,  the  gathering  of  them  has 
been  a  joy,  the  remembrance  of  them  is  an  inspiration. 

In  all  my  journeyings  and  observations  it  has  seemed  to  me 
that  the  different  parallels  of  latitude  simply  meant  different  dates 
for  plantings.  Short  seasons  of  bloom,  long  seasons  of  rest  in  the 
cooler  belts;  long  seasons  of  bloom,  short  seasons  of  rest  in  the 
warmer  zones. 


14  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Inquiries  have  come  to  me  concerning  gardens  from  all  sections 
of  the  South,  from  Virginia  to  Florida,  and  from  Georgia  to  Texas. 
These  bear  out  my  own  experience  that  all  the  books,  planting 
lists,  garden  calendars  and  helps,  are  planned  for  those  who  make 
gardens  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  Line.  For  this  reason,  the 
following  chapters  are  sent  out  in  book  form,  in  order  that  they 
may  make  a  convenient  and  handy  guide  for  those  who  wish  to 
develop  their  home  grounds  in  the  South  and  have  not  had  suffi- 
cient experience  to  know  how  to  go  about  it. 

This  work  is  not  intended  to  be,  nor  could  I  make  it,  a  com- 
prehensive guide  to  the  flora  of  the  South,  but  the  information  it 
contains  has  been  gained  by  constant  study  and  practical  expe- 
rience covering  a  period  of  years,  not  only  in  my  own  garden,  but 
in  those  of  my  neighbors,  and  in  it  will  be  found  material  that  has 
helped  to  solve  garden  problems  for  all  parts  of  the  Southern 
States. 

Any  garden  guide  will  give  proper  directions  as  to  how  to  plant 
the  seeds  of  most  of  the  annuals  and  perennials  that  we  use;  any 
good  gardener  knows  how  to  prepare  the  soil  and  set  out  shrubs, 
and  Roses,  and  trees,  but,  with  us,  it  is  not  so  much  the  how  as 
the  when  that  counts,  and  the  lists  of  annuals,  perennials,  shrubs, 
and  vines  that  are  given  are  those  that  have  stood  the  test  not  only 
of  time,  but  also  of  sunlight  and  shade  in  this  land  of  long,  hot 
Summer  and  short,  cold  Winters. 

What  has  been  written,  while  intended  to  meet  southern  con- 
ditions not  usually  touched  upon,  will  also  apply  to  a  much  wider 
field.  Early  plantings  in  the  South,  later  ones  in  the  cooler  sec- 
tions, is  the  invariable  rule.  But,  because  it  is  also  the  usual  rule 
to  give  the  other  sections  precedence  I  have  reversed  the  procedure 
and  given  the  dates  of  the  earlier  plantings  first.  The  color 
schemes,  the  perennial  groupings,  the  shrubbery  borders,  and, 
in  fact,  all  the  plantings  except  those  of  most  of  the  broad-leaved 
evergreens  and  a  few  of  the  more  tender  and  exotic  plants,  may 
be  used  equally  well  in  sections  of  the  East  and  West  and  North. 
The  limits  of  hardiness  are  carefully  noted  throughout. 

It  seems  hard  that  all  gardeners  of  the  South  must  learn  by 
sad  experience  that  if  a  writer  tells  of  the  glories  of  the  Delphinium 


THE  HOPES  AND  JOYS  OF  GARDEN  MAKING 


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THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


THE  HOPES  AND  JOYS  OF  GARDEN  MAKING  17 

cashmerianum  and  kindred  plants  in  her  gardens  on  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson,  it  does  not  necessarily  mean  that  the  same  plantings 
will  give  beauty  on  the  banks  of  the  Savannah  or  the  Chatta- 
hoochee or  the  Cumberland.  With  her,  they  are  glorious  in  June 
after  Fall  planting;  with  us,  they  lift  their  faces  skyward  in  March 
after  having  been  planted  the  previous  Spring.  Climatic  condi- 
tions, therefore,  are  so  different  that  radical  procedures  are  neces- 
sary for  successful  growth  of  the  blossoms  of  the  cooler  belts,  and 
the  only  way  to  find  this  out  has  been  by  trial  and  failure,  and 
trial  followed  by  success.  A  wonderful  part  of  this  gardening 
business  is  that  when  one  planting  is  crowned  with  glory  the 
dozen  unsuccessful  ones  are  immediately  forgotten — truly,  defeat 
is  swallowed  up  in  victory. 

While  it  is  possible  for  me  to  forget  the  failures  in  the  joy  of 
achievement,  my  garden  records  have  noted  them  unerringly, 
with  the  reasons  therefor,  and  because  of  this  the  story  of  my 
successful  efforts  can  be  depended  upon.  These  chapters  contain 
the  records  of  success.  The  failures  are  omitted.  There  are 
many  plantings  that  I  could  write  about  that  I  have  left  out 
because  they  were  outside  my  personal  experience.  These  that 
are  given  may  be  relied  upon. 

The  richness  of  the  vegetation  of  this  territory  makes  it  not 
only  a  privilege  but  a  duty  to  have  beautiful  gardens  all  the  year. 
Whereas  the  northern  sections  are  limited  for  their  Winter  shrub- 
beries to  the  coniferous  evergreens,  which  oftentimes  must  be 
carefully  protected  from  sleet  and  snowstorms,  in  our  portion  of 
the  land  there  are  wonderful  broad-leaved  evergreens  that  furnish 
blossom  and  fragrance  from  month  to  month  and  that  frame 
green  lawns  in  January  and  February  quite  as  beautifully  as  in 
July  and  August.  From  the  lists  of  these  shrubs,  evergreens  and 
vines  here  given,  every  gardener,  whether  his  area  be  limited  to 
a  ten-foot  lot  or  is  of  wide  extent,  should  be  able  to  find  material 
that  will  help  him  to  make  a  garden  that  will  be  a  permanent  joy 
and  become  more  and  more  beautiful  from  year  to  year. 

The  information  that  is  here  offered  to  garden  lovers,  and  to 
those  who  are  ambitious  to  make  their  homes  attractive  by  the 
use  of  growing  plants  and  shrubs,  is  intended  primarily  as  a  guide 


18  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

that  will  enable  them  to  know  what  to  plant  and  when  to  plant. 
It  is  sent  out  with  the  hope  that  it  may  prove  as  much  of  an 
inspiration  to  read  it  as  it  has  been  a  joy  to  gather  it  and  formulate 
it  here;  the  hope  that  in  some  small  measure  it  may  help  the 
home  makers  of  this  section  to  become  garden  makers;  the  hope 
that  the  Garden  Beautiful  may  be  quite  as  truly  an  ideal  to  be 
striven  for  now  as  it  was  in  those  early  days  when  the  storied 
gardens  of  Virginia  and  South  Carolina  as  well  as  those  of  Massa- 
chusetts were  known  to  all  the  world. 

To  help  our  country  come  into  her  own  and  be  recognized  for 
what  she  is — the  Garden  Spot  of  the  World — would  not  require 
many  years  if  all  those  who  love  her  would  strive  for  this  ideal. 
To  aid  in  this  most  worthy  achievement  is  the  mission  of  this 
little  book. 


BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS 


19 


The  orange  berries  of  the  evergreen  Hawthorn 


CHAPTER  II 


BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS— FOR  EVERY  GARDEN 

CLIMATIC  conditions  in  the  Southern  States  are  particularly 
propitious  in  the  matter  of  evergreens.  It  is  not  only  pos- 
sible for  us  to  grow  almost  all  of  the  coniferous  varieties  which 
are  popular  in  the  higher  latitudes,  but  there  are  many  broad- 
leaved  kinds  which  are  perfectly  hardy  with  us  which  cannot  be 
grown  out  of  doors  elsewhere. 

Winter  planting  is  recommended  for  all  the  broad-leaved 
evergreens  except  the  Camellias  and  Azalea  indica^  which  must 
wait  until  the  season  of  bloom  is  over  and  are  best  put  out  in 
Spring,  the  latter  part  of  April  or  the  first  of  May.  The  trans- 
planting of  these  plants  from  the  open  ground  is  a  difficult  matter 
and  if  it  is  to  succeed,  defoHation  is  necessary.  This  is  especially 
true  of  the  Magnolias,  Photinias,  Ligustrums,  Elaeagnus,  Laurus, 
evergreen  Oaks  and  Viburnums.     Usually  the  nurserymen  send 


20  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

them  out  with  a  ball  of  earth  around  the  roots.  When  one  pur- 
chases them  in  this  condition,  balled  and  burlapped,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  remove  the  wrappings,  place  the  specimens  in  the 
ground  in  the  especially  prepared  holes^and  the  evergreen  effect 
is  at  once  achieved. 

For  the  background  of  the  shrubbery  border  nothing  can  be 
planted  which  gives  better  results  and  more  beautiful  effects 
than  these  broad-leaved  evergreens.  Where  a  screen  is  needed 
nothing  can  be  chosen  which  will  serve  the  double  purpose  of 
beauty  and  utility  like  masses  of  the  English  Laurel,  Laurocerasus 
laurocerasus^  Ligustrum  japonica  and  Ligustrum  lucidum.  Ilex 
glabra^  Ilex  opaca.  Ilex  Cassine,  the  Neriums,  the  evergreen  Haw- 
thorn, Pyracantha  coccinea  Lalandii,  and  Eriobotrya  japonica^  the 
Japanese  Medlar  or  Loquat. 

For  a  quick-growing  background  either  Cerasus  caroliniana^ 
the  Carolina  Cherry,  or  the  native  wild  Olive,  Olea  americana,  is 
distinctive  and  beautiful,  and  both  subsequently  assume  tree-like 
growth.  The  wild  Olive  is  extremely  difficult  to  transplant  from 
the  wildwoods,  but  if  cut  back  slightly  and  entirely  defoliated  it 
may  be  successfully  lifted  even  though  it  has  reached  several  feet 
in  height.  This  is  also  true  of  the  Hollies.  December  is  the 
best  time  to  move  them. 

For  the  extensive  grounds  and  bold  landscape  effects.  Mag- 
nolia grandiflora,  M.  grandijlora  gloriosa^  M.  juscata^  the  sweet- 
scented  Banana  Shrub,  the  evergreen  Oaks  and  the  fragrant 
Osmanthus  are  used.  The  magnificent  specimens  of  the  beautiful 
old  Magnolias  that  grace  the  spacious  lawns  of  the  old  southern 
homes  and  line  the  avenues  of  some  of  our  cities  and  most  of  the 
old  cemeteries  are  wonderfully  beautiful  all  the  year.  Some  of 
these  trees  in  Bonaventure  cemetery  at  Savannah  are  more  than 
a  hundred  feet  high  and  are  gloriously  beautiful  when  in  flower 
and  most  attractive  when  the  scarlet  seeds  show  on  the  brown 
pods  in  the  Autumn.  Here  they  are  festooned  with  clinging  veils 
of  the  grey  Spanish  Moss,  as  they  are  also  in  New  Orleans. 

Individual  specimens  of  these  trees  are  often  planted  in  the 
sidewalk  grass  plots  and  are  most  attractive  in  this  situation  as 
well  as  wherever  large  evergreen  plantings  are  desirable.     The 


BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS 


21 


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22 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS  23 

only  objections  to  the  Magnolia  plantings  on  the  lawn  are  the 
constant  falling  of  the  leaves  which  makes  it  impossible  to  keep 
the  lawn  neat  under  them,  and  the  deep  shade  which  renders  it 
very  hard  to  secure  a  close  and  firm  growth  of  grass. 

Of  the  smaller  shrubs  for  mass  and  individual  growth  none  is 
sweeter  than  Oka  fragrans^  the  Tea  Olive,  which  is  considered  by 
many  the  most  fragrant  shrub  we  have.  The  dainty  clusters  of 
creamy  white  blossoms,  while  in  themselves  insignificant,  begin 
to  show  in  November  and  for  six  months  the  garden  is  the  sweeter 
for  their  presence.  They  are  as  delightful  indoors  as  they  are 
outside  and  the  shrub  is  particularly  desirable  on  account  of  its 
comparatively  rapid  growth. 

Among  the  broad-leaved  evergreens  that  bloom  in  the  Autumn 
are  the  heavenly  sweet  Oleasters,  Elaeagnus  macrophylla  and  the 
bronze-leaved  Elaeagnus  reflexa.  If  only  for  their  fragrance  they 
should  be  found  in  every  garden.  The  fruit  which  comes  in  March 
is  decorative  and  highly  prized  for  its  acidity  by  the  Chinese, 
who  use  it  for  jellies  and  jams.  These,  with  Eriobotrya  japonica^ 
the  Japanese  Loquat,  bloom  in  October,  and  perfume  the  air  for 
a  wide  circumference  with  their  delicious  odors.  The  Assam 
Tea  Plant,  Thea  Bohea,  blossoms  a  little  later  and  is  truly  a  trop- 
ical shrub.  This  plant  is  not  as  well  known  as  it  should  be,  for 
it  is  really  a  beautiful  plant  at  all  times  and  in  the  blooming  season 
most  attractive.  The  petals  are  pearly  white,  either  four  or  five 
in  number,  and  much  like  the  Orange  blossoms  in  texture  but 
larger  in  size  and  with  masses  of  yellow  anthers  in  the  center. 
The  buds  resemble  those  of  the  Oranges.  The  flowers,  closely 
studded  along  the  stems  among  the  deep  green  leaves,  make  a 
very  striking  Midwinter  garden  picture.  They  bloom  from 
November  until  February.  About  twenty  miles  from  Charleston 
these  Teas  are  grown  for  commercial  use  and  are  a  successful 
experiment  in  foreign  plant  introduction.  From  this  point  and 
south  along  the  Gulf  Coast  they  are  perfectly  hardy.  This  is 
almost  a  Christmas  flower. 

Other  Christmas  greens  that  should  be  planted  are  the  Hollies, 
which  should  always  be  closely  associated  in  groups  that  include 
both  the  pistillate  and  staminate  kinds.    The  familiar  American 


24  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Holly,  Ilex  opaca^  is  not  more  attractive  than  Ilex  aquifolium^  the 
European  Holly;  and  the  Chinese  and  Japanese  varieties,  Ilex 
cornuta  and  Ilex  crenata^  with  Ilex  glabra^  the  native  Winter- 
berry  or  Inkberry,  are  all  good  and  hardy  garden  plants.  Ilex 
cassine^  the  native  Holly,  called  Cassine  Berry,  is  a  beautiful  and 
attractive  shrub.  The  tree  Hollies  should,  of  course,  be  used 
for  background  and  border  planting  or  as  a  screen.  They  are  of 
beautiful  light  green  color  that  contrasts  most  delightfully  with 
the  foliage  of  the  darker-leaved  plantings.  A  southern  lawn  in 
its  Winter  dress  of  bright  velvety  green  framed  in  a  border  of 
American  Holly,  with  vivid  green  leaves  and  bright-hued  berries, 
is  a  Winter  picture  that  is  as  beautiful  as  it  is  striking  and  well 
worth  striving  for. 

Particularly  would  I  stress  the  desirability  of  planting  these 
Holly  trees  on  the  farms,  in  the  dooryards,  and  by  the  roadsides. 
Not  only  because  they  are  beautiful  and  desirable  from  the  artistic 
standpoint,  but  because  the  vandals  who  go  forth  at  each  recurring 
Christmastide  are  robbing  our  woodlands  of  their  most  beautiful 
trees,  some  replanting  must  be  done  soon  or  the  Holly  will  be  a 
forgotten  story.  Therefore,  plant  Holly,  Ilex  opaca.  December 
to  February  is  the  accepted  planting  season.  Defoliate  the  tree 
to  be  moved,  cut  off  the  roots  that  have  been  bruised  in  digging, 
set  the  tree  in  good  soil  and  a  favorable  situation,  and  while  the 
growth  is  very  slow  at  first,  once  established  it  is  fascinating  to 
watch.  Soon  you  will  be  proudly  speaking  of  your  own  Christ- 
mas tree  in  your  garden.  Then,  see  how  you  feel  if  some  would-be 
decorator  slips  in  by  night  and  cuts  off  half  of  ten  years'  growth 
at  one  fell  swoop! 

A  noteworthy  group  of  shrubs  consists  of  the  evergreen  Vibur- 
nums. The  most  popular,  hardy  and  satisfactory  is  Viburnum  tinus, 
commonly  known  as  Laurustinus.  The  creamy  panicles  of  bloom 
are  preceded  by  buds  of  bright  red  which  come  in  November  and 
make  the  plant  showy  in  Winter.  The  white  flowers  appear  in 
February  and  all  Summer  the  black  clusters  of  berries  persist. 
Laurustinus  is  frequently  used  as  a  hedge  plant  and  in  one  formal 
garden  I  know  has  grown  to  a  height  of  twenty  feet  on  each  side 
of  a  long  walk.     When  in  blossom  it  is  heavenly  sweet  and  won- 


BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS 


25 


26 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


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BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS  27 

derfully  beautiful.  Shearing  has  the  tendency  to  reduce  the 
flower  heads. 

Fow  low-growing  masses  and  for  Summer  bloom  the  delicate- 
leaved  Abelia  grandiflora  is  most  reliable  and  hardy.  It  is  con- 
tinuously in  bloom  from  June  until  October  and  when  planted 
in  large  groups  is  very  charming.  Masses  of  the  deciduous  Spirxa 
Thunbergii  with  the  Abelia  make  a  very  fine  foundation  planting 
and  give  good  results  where  more  delicate  shrubbery  is  needed 
than  is  furnished  by  the  larger-leaved  varieties  of  these  ever- 
greens. Abelia  and  Spiraea  Thunbergii  also  make  charming 
flowering  hedges  where  beauty  is  wanted  in  the  dividing  line 
rather  than  strength. 

Even  more  dainty  of  foliage  than  the  Abelia  is  Nandina  domes- 
tical which  is  almost  a  Fern  in  its  delicate  greenness.  In  Winter 
the  leaves  assume  tones  of  coppery  orange,  the  new  leaves  always 
have  a  reddish  tinge,  and  the  contrasting  tones  of  the  leaf  buds 
with  the  delicate  green  of  the  finely  cut  foliage  is  a  charming  and 
necessary  addition  to  the  darker  greens  of  the  usually  somber- 
leaved  evergreens.  In  the  Spring  there  are  creamy  panicles  of 
white  flowers  which  are  followed  by  heavy  clusters  of  brilliantly 
scarlet  berries;  these,  persisting  all  Winter,  make  this  a  most  effec- 
tive garden  shrub.  The  Chinese  use  it  extensively  in  their  landscape 
work  and  call  it  ^'Heavenly  Bamboo."  The  best  Nandinas  I 
have  seen  were  grown  in  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina  and 
there  are  plants  growing  in  nearby  gardens  that  were  put  out 
over  a  hundred  years  ago.  Still  there  are  many  who  never  heard 
of  it. 

Ligustrum  amurense,  Amoor  Privet,  while  usually  planted  for 
a  hedge,  also  furnishes  the  lighter  green  tones  and  delicate  leafage 
desired  in  the  shrubbery  border  of  evergreen  plantings. 

The  most  exquisite  of  the  evergreen  flowers,  Kalmia  latijolia^ 
commonly  known  by  the  unpoetic  name  of  Calico  Bush,  but 
really  Mountain  Laurel,  grows  so  freely  in  our  mountains  and 
wildwoods  that  few  gardens  include  it.  Blossoming  in  the  Spring 
and  freshly  green  all  the  year,  if  it  can  be  successfully  naturalized, 
it  is  a  wonderful  addition  to  the  garden.  Although  hard  to 
transplant  from  the  woodlands,  it  is  not  difficult  to  establish  if 


28  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


KALMIA  LATIFOLIA,  THE  MOUNTAIN  LAUREL 
It  is  equally  at  home  North  or  East  or  South — in  the  Catskills,  the  Cumberlands  or  on  the 
old  red  hills  of  Georgia,  and  beautiful  everywhere.    Give  it  a  shady  nook,  plenty  of  leaf- 
mold  and  good  drainage 


secured  from  a  reliable  nurseryman,  balled  and  burlapped,  pro- 
vided the  gardener  is  careful  to  prepare  for  it  the  deep,  rich 
leafmold,  clean  loam,  and  good  drainage  that  it  demands  when 
away  from  its  native  heath.  It  must  also  have  the  requisite 
amount  of  sun  and  shade — not  too  much  of  either.  Planted  in 
heavy  masses,  as  the  Rhododendrons  should  always  be  planted, 
on  the  edges  of  the  woodlands,  where  the  background  of  hills  and 
trees  is  a  part  of  the  garden  picture,  its  beauty  increases  from 
year  to  year. 

Very  seldom  is  this  done,  but  why  not  bring  the  glory  of  the 
Catskills  in  June  and  the  wonder  of  the  Cumberlands  and  the 
Alleghanies  in  April  to  gladden  our  gardens  and  make  beautiful 
pictures  on  our  southern  estates  ? 

The  English  Laurel,  Laurocerasus  lanrocerasus,  the  Apollo's 
Laurel,  Laurus  nobilis,  and  the  old  favorite,  Buxus  sempervirens. 


BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS 


29 


are  foliage  plantings  that  are  eminently  desirable  and  reliable 
for  evergreen  effects  of  both  formal  and  informal  nature.  The 
Boxwood  is,  of  course,  most  used  for  formal  pruning. 

Pittosporum  Tobira,  the  Japanese  Pittosporum,  is  a  globular 
form  of  evergreen  that  can  be  sheared  into  any  desired  form. 
Sheared,  it  is  excellent  for  accenting  curves  in  walks  or  drives. 
It  grows  very  rapidly  and  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  of  the 
broad-leaved  shrubs.  Its  creamy-white  flowers  that  show  in 
February  are  insignificant,  but  the  plant  is  always  beautiful. 
As  a  foreground  planting,  or  used  together  with  the  deciduous 
Pearl  Bushes,  Exochorda  grandiflora,  it  is  wonderfully  beautiful. 

The  Gardenias,  G.  jasminoides  florida  and  G.  Fortunei^  should 
be  planted  in  December  and  for  those  who  care  for  the  heavy 
odor,  they  are  desirable  and  attractive  shrubs. 

As  severe  Winters  have  disastrous  effects  on  the  Neriums 
(Oleanders),  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  use  them  for  open  ground 
effects  above  the  latitude  of  Savannah.  Where  they  will  grow, 
nothing  is  lovelier  than  either  hedges  or  specimen  plantings  of 


m^ 

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i. 

ENGLISH  LAUREL  IN  ALL  ITS  BEAUTY  AND  USEFULNESS 
An  effective  screen  planting  of  this  popular  subject  is  shown  at  the  left 


30 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


The  starry  Oleander  blossom,  from  a  plant 
1 50  years  old  in  the  author's  garden 


Oleanders.  They  blossom  for 
many  months,  are  almost 
immune  from  insect  pests, 
through  all  sorts  of  treatment 
and  through  no  sort  of  treat- 
ment, they  go  from  glory  to 
glory  and  are  well  worthy  of 
the  name  of  the  very  best  of 
our  garden  friends.  Of  com- 
paratively rapid  growth,  I 
know  of  many  plants  that  are 
from  eight  to  twelve  feet  in 
height  and  many  feet  in  di- 
ameter five  or  six  years  after 
planting. 

For  tropical  effects,  either 
in  the  background  or  the  fore- 
ground, few  plantings  equal 
the  Yuccas.  The  plan  of  plant- 
ing hedges  of  the  variety  known  as  the  Spanish  Bayonet,  Yucca 
aloifolia,  is  not  to  be  recommended.  This  is  the  least  desirable 
of  the  three  kinds  that  are  available,  because  it  has  a  tendency 
to  grow  tall  and,  becoming  top-heavy,  fall  in  unsightly  positions. 

If  a  Yucca  hedge  is  desired,  plant  the  lower-growing  kind. 
Yucca  filamentosa^  commonly  known  as  Bear  Grass.  The  finer- 
leaved  Mexican  Yucca  Treculeana,  is  the  most  attractive  of  all, 
though  the  characteristic  flower  stalks  are  not  quite  so  heavy  as 
are  those  of  Y.filamentosa  and  Y.  aloifolia. 

They  are  all  handsome  when  in  flower.  The  stalks  rise  at 
least  three  feet  above  the  needle-tipped  leaves  and  the  creamy, 
bell-shaped  blossoms  cover  them  from  stem  to  tip.  They  are 
very  fragrant  also,  which  is  an  additional  attraction  that,  added 
to  their  rather  unusual  form,  makes  them  especially  desirable. 
One  could  not  wish  to  see  a  prettier  picture  than  that  made  against 
a  brick  wall  or  a  dark  evergreen  background  by  the  gray-green 
Yucca  spikes  crowned  by  the  handsome  clusters  of  sweet-scented 
blossoms,  almost  like  a  giant  Hyacinth  stalk,  as  they  ring  out 


BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS 


31 


CURIOUS.  BUT  ATTRACTIVE.  TOO 
Tropical  Florida  shows  many  interesting  forms  of  the  genus  Euphorbia.    This  fine  specimen 

is  at  Miami 


32 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


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A  SPLENDID  LIVE  OAK 
Quercus  virginlana  In  Savannah,  Ga.,  gracefully  draped  with  Spanish  Moss 


BROAD-LEAVED  EVERGREENS  33 

the  Summer  chimes  which  call  the  humming  bird  and  butterflies 
and  bees  to  their  noonday  convocations. 

The  evergreen  Barberries  are  justly  popular,  the  most  fre- 
quently planted  being  Berberis  japonica  and  Mahonia  aquijolia^ 
which  require  a  partially  shaded  situation  and  a  rather  moist  soil 
and  do  well  when  planted  in  a  thick  group  of  shrubbery.  Here 
the  heads  of  yellow  flowers  show  brilliantly  in  the  very  earliest 
days  of  Spring,  and  the  clusters  of  turquoise-blue  berries  that 
persist  all  Summer  are  most  interesting  and  unusual. 

Of  all  the  evergreen  plantings  none  can  be  given  that  are 
more  reliable  and 'satisfactory  than  the  evergreen  Privets.  They 
are  sufficient  in  themselves  to  make  an  interesting  garden. 
IJgustrum  japonicum^  L.  lucidum  and  L.  nepalense  are  most  used 
for  thick  background  and  screen  plantings  and  by  judicious 
mingling  of  these  three  varieties  one  can  make  a  screen  twenty- 
five  feet  tall  that  comes  close  down  to  the  turf.  The  blossoms 
of  all  these  varieties  are  typical  and  they  have  large  leaves  of 
shiny  green  which  when  small  are  of  delicate  light  green  color  and 
when  matured  are  rich  deep  chrome.  The  clusters  of  green  ber- 
ries on  Ligustrum  japonicum  and  L.  nepalense  are  very  attractive 
in  Summer.  In  the  Fall  and  Winter  they  are  purple  and  black 
with  a  soft  bloom. 

For  Hghter  plantings  where  a  more  delicate  growth  is  needed 
Ligustrum  ^uihoui  and  L.  sinense  are  good.  Their  foliage  is  very 
small  and  dainty  and  much  Hghter  than  the  ones  just  mentioned. 
All  of  the  Privets  give  fine  results  in  landscape  work. 

It  were  a  waste  of  time  to  enumerate  all  the  evergreen  plant- 
ings that  can  be  used  in  the  Southern  States.  With  those  that 
are  given  borders  of  broad-leaved  evergreens  can  be  made  that 
will  serve  every  purpose  needed  and  that  will  be  in  blossom  from 
January  to  January  and  that  will  be  always  beautiful. 

Rhododendrons  are  wonderfully  beautiful  in  the  sections 
between  Asheville  and  Atlanta,  but  farther  south  are  hard  to 
establish  and  usually  unsatisfactory.  This  is  written  in  spite 
of  a  few  successful  plantings.  The  average  garden  rule  for  Rho- 
dodendrons is  failure.     Why   try  them  ?   'Our  world  is  so  full 


34  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

of  an  infinite  number  of  broad-leaved  evergreens  that  grow  easily 
and  thrive  well  we  have  not  time  to  wish  for  the  Rhododendrons 
of  other  climes. 

Not  the  least  charm  of  the  gardens  of  Tea  Olives,  Oleasters, 
Pittosporums,  Eriobotryas,  Laurustinus  and  Abelias  is  the  char- 
acteristic fragrance  of  all  the  varieties.  Another  striking  merit 
is  the  beauty  of  the  fruit  of  almost  all  of  them.  The  scarlet 
berries  of  the  Hollies,  the  orange  clusters  of  the  Hawthorn  berries, 
the  purple  and  black  of  the  Privets,  the  clear  blue  of  the  Mahonia, 
the  rosy-tipped  buds  of  the  Laurustinus,  that  show  even  while 
the  black  berries  are  on  the  plants,  add  brightness  to  the  garden 
picture  and  make  even  Winter  gay.  From  the  creamy  white 
of  the  Tea  Olive  and  the  dainty  blush-tinted  Abelia  and  the 
golden-hearted  Tea  blossoms,  through  the  galaxy  of  Spring  flow- 
ers to  the  starry  Oleanders  that  come  in  Midsummer,  down  to 
the  scarlet  berries  of  the  Hollies  and  the  tawny  clusters  of  the 
Thorns  of  the  Autumn  days,  and  on  again  through  the  years, 
always  and  all  the  time  our  broad-leaved  evergreen  flora  fur- 
nishes wonderful  interest,  fragrance  and  beauty. 


ORNAMENTAL  HEDGE  PLANTS 


35 


CHAPTER  III 


ORNAMENTAL  HEDGE  PLANTS— FOR  EVERY 
GARDENER 

NO  fence  that  was  ever  built  or  planned  can  equal  in  attrac- 
tiveness, for  division  lines  or  for  street  protection,  a  hedge 
of  ornamental  growth.  Not  only  does  the  living  boundary  need 
no  repair,  but  it  grows  in  beauty  from  year  to  year.  It  is  best 
to  plant  a  hedge  in  December,  but  if  unavoidable  delay  has  occurred 
it  is  not  too  late  to  take  advantage  of  the  rifts  in  the  February 
clouds  and  to  plant  out  those  shrubs,  both  deciduous  and  ever- 
green, those  Roses  and  those  hedge  plants  that  are  required  in 
the  garden  plan,  feeling  sure  of  good  results  from  even  the  late  start. 


Clipped  standards  of  Cerasus  caroliniana,  or  Wild  Olive,  give  distinction  to  this  Ligustrum 

amurense  hedge 


36  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Preparation  for  planting  a  hedge  should  be  even  more  care- 
fully made  than  in  making  a  lawn  or  planting  trees  and  shrubs. 
The  soil  should  be  more  thoroughly  enriched  and  the  digging 
should  be  deeper  because  greater  demands  are  to  be  made  on  it 
by  the  close  and  permanent  planting. 

The  distance  at  which  hedge  plants  should  be  set  depends 
entirely  upon  the  varieties  used.  As  close  growth  from  the 
ground  is  the  object  to  be  attained  it  is  necessary  to  put  the  plants 
closer  than  they  will  be  required  at  full  growth  and,  if  necessary, 
later  to  cut  out  the  surplus  and  intermediate  growth  which  crowds 
too  much.  The  best  form  for  a  hedge  is  the  conical  or  triangular, 
because  the  tendency  in  this  form  of  cutting  is  to  encourage  growth 
from  all  points  along  the  sides,  while  the  perpendicular  pruning 
produces  growth  only  at  the  top  and  is  likely  to  develop  a  thin- 
ness at  the  ground  where  it  should  be  thickest. 

For  formal  planting  the  Amoor  and  California  Privets  are 
unexcelled.  The  Amoor,  Ligustrum  amurense^  is  unquestionably 
the  most  desirable  hedge  plant  grown  in  this  section  for  the  home 
grounds.  It  is  of  comparatively  rapid  growth  and  retains  its 
bright  colored  foliage  the  entire  year.  It  should  be  closely  cut 
back  when  put  out,  should  be  planted  not  more  than  one  foot 
apart,  and  if  kept  closely  trimmed,  in  two  years  makes  not 
only  an  effective  but  highly  ornamental  division  line  or  screen. 
Uncut,  the  Amoor  Privet  reaches  a  height  of  twenty  feet  and 
forms  a  background  of  indescribable  loveliness  when  it  flowers 
in  April  and  May. 

Ligustrum  ovalifolium,  the  California  Privet,  retains  some  of 
its  foliage  in  Winter,  is  a  darker  color  and  is  more  satisfactory 
for  the  higher  latitudes.  It  is  used  much  more  in  the  North  and 
West  than  in  the  South. 

For  a  low-growing  hedge,  where  strength  as  well  as  beauty  is 
desirable,  Thunberg's  Barberry,  Berberis  Thunbergii,  is  most 
effective.  Its  leaves  of  bright  green  throughout  Summer,  change 
to  a  rich  red  in  Autumn  and  the  bright  red  berries  which  are 
borne  in  profusion  are  wonderfully  attractive  all  Winter  and 
contrast  with  the  delicate  green  of  the  foliage  in  Spring.  This 
most  beautiful  shrub  is  one  of  our  importations  from  Japan.     It 


ORNAMENTAL  HEDGE  PLANTS 


37 


38 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


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ORNAMENTAL  HEDGE  PLANTS 


39 


is  hardy  everywhere.  If  undipped  it  forms  a  low,  dense  hedge 
of  great  beauty  and  used  formally  it  makes  one  of  density  and 
durability,  as  well  as  beauty. 

Almost  as  delicate  as  Fern  fronds  are  the  leaves  of  Thun- 
berg's  Spiraea,  Spirxa  Thunbergii^  which  usually  blooms  in  March 
and  whose  dainty  and  beautiful  little  blossoms  remind  one  forcibly 
of  Baby's  Breath,  Gypsophila  paniculata.  It  is  commonly  called 
Snow  Garland  and  the  finely-cut  brown  stems  are  flower-starred 
before  the  leaves  show  at  all.  Its  branches  are  slender  and  droop- 
ing, its  leaves  very  narrow  and  of  light  green  which  changes  to 
an  orange  and  red  in  the  Fall.  This  is  a  planting  that  makes 
for  beauty  and  not  for  protection.  For  lightening  masses  of  shrub- 
bery, for  softening  the  lines  of  buildings,  for  outlining  terraces, 


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W^^Br^f'iism(^wSS^SH^aSS^I&tSmm\ 

Tree  Boxwood  (Buxus  sempervirens)  as  it  grows  in  Maryland 


40  THE  feLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

for  masses  of  beauty  in  any  part  of  the  grounds  this  Spiraea  is 
invaluable  to  the  landscape  artist. 

For  strength  and  durability  there  is  no  hedge  plant  that 
can  equal  Citrus  trifoliata^  the  Japan  Hardy  Orange,  and  while 
it  is  not  an  evergreen,  the  hardy  wood  of  a  rich  olive-green  color 
makes  it  not  unsightly  in  Winter.  If  cut  closely  three  times  a 
year  it  may  be  kept  within  bounds  and  nothing  can  penetrate  it 
"from  a  rabbit  to  an  elephant."  The  blossoms  that  show  in 
early  Spring  are  very  fragrant  and  add  much  to  the  attractive- 
ness of  the  hedge  at  this  season.  This  is  said  to  be  hardy  as  far 
north  as  New  Jersey. 

Prunus  caroliniana,  the  Mock  Orange  of  the  South,  is  almost 
too  well-known  to  need  mention.  It  grows  very  rapidly,  and 
must  be  kept  closely  sheared  and  watched  carefully  in  order  to 
keep  it  within  bounds.  It  is,  however,  a  beautiful  evergreen 
hedge  plant  and  for  large  boundaries  where  quick  growth  and 
strong  protection  are  needed  nothing  will  give  better  results. 

Rhamnus  catharticus,  the  common  Buckthorn,  thrives  in 
moist,  loamy  soils  and  in  partial  shade  and  is  recommended  for 
a  defensive  hedge  where  it  is  advisable  to  use  a  large-growing 
species.  It  has  not  only  handsome  foliage  but  showy  berries. 
It  is  also  extremely  hardy  and  such  a  vigorous  grower  that  it  can  be 
depended  on  for  protection  at  an  early  date  after  planting. 

For  the  old-fashioned  formal  garden,  such  as  our  grand- 
mothers used  to  make.  Boxwood,  Buxus  sempervirens,  is  in  great 
demand.  All  along  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  Boston  to  New 
Orleans,  these  old  gardens  are  to  be  seen.  Most  of  them  were 
planted  with  formal  beds  outlined  in  the  Boxwood,  inclosing 
shrubs  and  perennials  and  annuals  at  random.  Some  of  them 
are  unkempt  and  uncared  for,  others  are  trim  and  neat  and  in 
perfect  condition,  and  in  their  quaint  and  stilted  way  they  stand 
as  monuments  to  that  ante-bellum  period  of  the  geometric  design 
and  the  formal  garden.  They  belong  to  the  day  of  brick  paths 
and  tangled  shrubs  with  an  Arborvitse  boundary  hedge,  with  the 
lower  Boxwood  borders  outlining  the  designs.  These  old  Box- 
wood borders  are  certainly  attractive,  the  old  evergreens  are 
many  of  them  stately  and  beautiful  at  this  time,  and  both  seem 


ORNAMENTAL  HEDGE  PLANTS 


41 


A  young  hedge  of  Ligustrum  amurense  started  in  the  "way  it  should  go"— that  is,  a  pyra- 
midal shape 


An  older  hedge  showing  the  effect  of  pyramidal  training.     The  Amoor  Privet  is  the  best 
all-round  Southern  hedge 


FOR  A  DENSE  HEDGE  KEEP  THE  BOTTOM  WIDER  THAN  THE  TOP 


42 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


3  11 


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ORNAMENTAL  HEDGE  PLANTS 


43 


everlasting  in  their  slow  growth,  but  who  would  make  such  a 
garden  now?  Let  us  preserve  these  that  we  have,  in  honor  of 
a  day  long  dead,  but  for  the  new  ones  the  new  order  to  which  we 
have  changed  is  certainly  best. 

Of  the  new  ones  the  most  beautiful  and  most  carefully  tended 
formal  garden  that  I  know  of  has  a  gray  stone  bird  bath  in  the 
center  of  a  sweep  of  velvet  turf.  Radiating  from  this  axis  are 
grass  walks  which  bound  formal  beds  that  are  outlined  in  that 
beautiful  dark  green,  dwarf  Boxwood,  Buxus  sempervirens  suffruti- 
cosa.  Accenting  the  corners  and  marking  the  turns  in  these 
beds  are  small  conifers,  the  Juniperus  communis  hibernica.  It 
is  the  delight  of  the  gardener  to  keep  those  beds  filled  with  a 
changing  panorama  of  exquisite  color  that  varies  from  season  to 
season.  Once  there  were  thousands  of  Darwin  Tulips  of  every 
tint  in  their  rhythm  of  color  harmony;  later  there  were  hundreds 
of  Phlox  Drumjnondii  and  Sweet  Williams  in  all  the  tones  of  pink 
and  red;  again  the  whole  garden  was  carpeted  in  flowers  of  the 
salmon  tints  that  line  the  shells  on  the  beach  on  a  Summer's 
morning;  Snapdragons,  Poppies,  Tulips,  Hyacinths,  in  every 
imaginable  depth  and  shade,  but  all  of  the  one  key  in  the  color 
scale.  Not  a  discord  in  the  whole  range  of  the  garden's  harmony. 
Again  the  fragrant  Violas  and  velvety  Pansies  lifted  their  faces 
skyward  and  the  garden  was  tinted  from  white  to  sunny  gold 


Juniperus  virginiana  behind  Ligustrum  amurense  makes  a  soft  but  very  effective  screen 


44 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


A  USEFUL  HEDGE  PLANTING 
Note  how  it  separates  the  terrace  from  the  lawn 


.^,    v:.^;-\  -^s 


« 


■^NlLiJ 


i  %f 


'^-^M' 


rrr 


BOXWOOD  EDGING  JUST  SIX  YEARS  OLD 
It  makes  this  modern  garden  look  like  those  of  a  past  century 


ORNAMENTAL  HEDGE  PLANTS 


45 


A  closer  side  view  of  the  hedge  pictured  on  page  43,  showing  its  curved 
P3rramidal  outline 

and  from  violet  again  to  pearly  white;  and  so  on  through  the 
years  and  ever  with  the  dark  ribbons  of  Boxwood  to  bind  the 
harmonies  of  the  flower  tones  to  the  velvet  greens  of  the  turf. 
As  the  ultimate  growth  of  this  variety  of  Boxwood  is  six  inches 
there  will  never  be  other  than  this  band  of  dark  green  ribbon  to 
show  through  the  garden  pictures  of  the  years. 

The  entrance  to  this  garden  is  through  a  wicket  gate  of  white- 
wood  that  is  set  under  an  arch  of  pleached  Amoor  Privet,  Ligus- 
trum  amurense,  and  this  forms  part  of  the  hedge  that  bounds 
this  lovely  garden  unit  in  the  beautiful  grounds  of  which  it  forms 
a  part. 


46 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


TWIN  CYPRESSES  ACCENT  THIS  GARDEN  ENTRANCE 

The  borders  in  this  unit  of  the  garden  are  filled  with  Azaleas,  Spiraeas,  Lilies.  Iris  and 

bulbs,  and  are  kept  within  bounds  by  a  margin  of  clipped  English  Ivy 


AZALEAS  AND  CAMELLIAS  47 


CHAPTER  IV 


AZALEAS  AND  CAMELLIAS— FOR  ALL  WHO  LOVE 

THEM 

WHETHER  planted  for  the  beauty  of  the  individual  spec- 
imen, for  groups  in  the  shrubbery  border,  for  hedges,  or 
for  plantations,  there  is  nothing  which  gives  more  satisfaction, 
more  beauty,  more  fragrance  than  the  Azaleas  of  all  kinds.  The 
earliest  to  bloom  shows  its  color  in  January  and  from  then  until 
May  one  after  another  of  the  species  may  be  seen.  The  native. 
Azalea  indica,  and  the  Chinese  Azalea  amoena^  are  both  desirable, 
hardy,  evergreen  shrubs;  the  latter  being  hardy  in  all  the  South- 
ern and  Pacific  States  and  the  former  as  far  north  as  New  York. 

The  Azaleas  are  very  particular  as  to  soil.  They  prefer  a 
rich,  moist,  well-drained  earth  containing  leafmold  or  wood's 
earth,  as  near  like  the  swampy  woodlands  that  form  their  native 
habitat  as  it  is  possible  to  get.  For  this  reason,  also,  they  ask 
for  protection  from  the  afternoon  sun  in  Summer  and  the  cold, 
piercing  winds  of  Winter,  and  do  best  when  planted  against  a 
background  of  trees  or  shrubbery,  a  garden  or  boundary  wall, 
or  where  they  are  sheltered  by  the  house.  Many  city  homes 
face  the  north,  and  it  is  very  hard  to  find  plantings  that  will  give 
satisfactory  results  under  such  conditions  of  shade  and  dampness 
as  usually  prevail  there.  In  this  situation,  given  the  soil  they 
need,  Azalea  indicas  are  ideal. 

The  beautiful  colorings  in  these  plants  give  one  wide  choice, 
and  it  is  possible  to  have  not  only  a  succession  of  bloom  in  group 
plantings,  but  also  to  have  a  gorgeous  color  harmony  that  ranges 
from  the  warm  side  of  the  color  scale  and  the  deep  tones  of  the 
glowing  crimson,  Le  Flambeau,   the  rich  rose  of  Comtesse  de 


48  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Beaufort,  the  pink,  delicate  and  exquisite  Mme.Van  der  Cruyssen, 
up  to  the  purest  white  of  the  Deutsche  Perle. 

In  the  violet  tones  are  Bernard  Andre,  which  is  dark  violet 
purple,  very  large  and  very  double,  and  Theo.  Reimers,  a  double 
lilac,  which  is  most  dainty  and  beautiful.  A  plantation  of  these 
two  varieties  lightened  with  the  Deutsche  Perle  gives  a  poem  of 
exquisite  color  harmony.  Against  a  background  of  Spring- 
blossoming  shrubs  in  yellow  tones  or  the  deep  greens  of  the  ever- 
green plantings  the  effect  is  wonderfully  fine  and  rather  more 
unusual  than  the  combinations  generally  seen  of  masses  of  pinks 
and  reds  with  white.  These,  however,  are  justly  the  pride  of 
our  southern  gardens.  Many  of  these  shrubs,  in  their  evergreen 
loveliness,  have  attained  a  height  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet. 
Hundreds  of  visitors  go  each  year  to  see  the  magnificent  specimens 
in  Magnolia  Gardens  at  Charleston,  which  are  known  far  and 
wide  for  their  beauty.  The  gardens  in  New  Orleans  and  Mobile, 
Augusta  and  Savannah,  and  other  southern  cities,  are  filled  with 
these  fragrant  and  handsome  plants.  They  must  be  seen  to  be 
appreciated. 

For  masses  among  the  evergreen  shrubbery  the  Azalea  Hino- 
digiri  is  a  valuable  acquisition.  It  is  a  Japanese  Azalea,  hardy, 
blooming  for  quite  a  long  period  and  with  flowers  of  the  brightest 
carmine.  They  are  borne  in  such  profusion  that  the  foliage  is 
entirely  covered  during  the  blossoming  time.  In  the  Fall  the 
leaves  become  bronze  in  color. 

The  colors  seen  in  the  ircvporttdi  Azalea  ganadavensis^  the  Ghent 
Azaleas,  and  Azalea  mollis^  a  native  of  China  and  Japan,  which 
the  florists  offer  each  year,  are  very  attractive  and  striking,  but, 
while  you  enjoy  these,  invest  also  in  those  others  which  will  grow 
outside  and  go  from  grace  to  grace  and  glory  to  glory. 

After  the  season  of  bloom  is  over,  these  pot-grown  plants  may 
also  be  put  in  the  open  ground,  and  will  give  fairly  satisfactory 
results.  To  me,  however,  they  do  not  appeal  as  do  those  which 
are  indigenous.  They  are  wonderful  hybrids,  but,  just  as  a 
cluster  of  Chrysanthemums  is  far  more  beautiful  than  the  yard 
of  stem  and  the  mammoth  flower  that  have  been  grown  from 
the  sacrifice  of  the  whole  armful  of  blossoms,  so  the  beauty  of 


AZALEAS  AND  CAMELLIAS 


49 


TRUE  HARMONY  OF  BOTH  COLOR  AND  FORM 

The  glowing  colors  of  the  Azaleas  always  stand  out  more  beautifully— as  here— against  a 

background  of  conifers  or  broad-leaved  evergreens 


50 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


AZALEA  KAEMPFERI.  A  VALUABLE  JAPANESE  ACCESSION 
Its  brilliant  colorings  make  it  a  striking  feature  of  the  flowering  borders  of  the  early  Spring- 
time 


AZALEAS  AND  CAMELLIAS  51 

the  dainty  and  fragrant  native  Azaleas  make  a  much  stronger 
appeal  in  their  loveliness  than  the  darlings  of  the  florist's  skill. 

Who  does  not  remember  tramping  into  the  wildwoods  as  the 
early  Spring  days  came  on  and  the  wild  Violets  and  Dogwood 
called  to  the  open  meadows  and  the  shadowy  depths  of  the 
swamps  ?  Can  one  ever  forget  the  golden  harvests  of  the  yellow 
Jasmine  and  the  pink  whorls  of  honey  sweetness  and  the  flaming 
torches  that  we  called  Swamp  Honeysuckle,  but  which  we  now 
know  for  the  native  Azaleas  ?  For  the  sake  of  "Auld  Lang  Syne," 
those  halcyon  days  of  childhood,  let  us  plant  them  in  our  gardens 
and  let  the  new  generations  revel  in  the  beauty  and  drink  in  the 
fragrance  of  our  old  friends  of  the  woodlands. 

We  will  have  Azalea  Vaseyi  {Rhododendron  Vaseyi)^  the  Car- 
ohna  Azalea,  a  plant  which  is  unique,  but  always  beautiful,  its 
blossoms  a  clear  rose  of  several  shades,  appearing  before  the 
leaves  unfold.  Much  like  this  is  Azalea  nudiflora^  the  Pinkster 
Flower,  free-flowering  shrubs  growing  from  three  to  five  feet,  and 
also  blossoming  freely  before  a  leaf  bud  shows.  Azalea  arborescens^ 
the  most  fragrant  of  all,  is  much  like  A.  indica,  but  is  not  ever- 
green. It  is  white,  tinged  with  pink,  with  long  style  and  exserted 
stamens  of  deep  red.  It  is  one  of  the  easiest  to  grow  and  is  a 
very  desirable  plant.  The  leaves  are  a  deep,  rich  red  in  the 
Autumn.  Lastly,  in  this  group  is  Azalea  viscosa^  a  small,  white 
Azalea,  the  smallest  of  the  species,  blossoming  when  very  young 
and  giving  satisfaction  wherever  found. 

An  entirely  different  color  rhythm  is  found  in  the  flame- 
colored  Azalea  lute  a  {^Azalea  calendulacea),  which  is  gorgeous  for 
many  weeks  with  its  profuse  clusters  of  blossoms  that  range 
through  all  the  shades  of  vivid  red,  orange  and  yellow.  Under 
cultivation  it  grows  from  six  to  eight  feet  tall.  Useful  for  group- 
ing with  this  variety  is  the  Apollo,  Azalea  indica,  which  is  an 
early  semi-double  of  a  clear  vermilion.  These  plantings  of  orange- 
yellows  and  vermilions  and  scarlets  Hghten  the  shrubbery  border 
almost  as  if  they  were  flaming  torches  set  to  show  Spring  the  road 
to  Summer,  so  vivid  and  beautiful  are  they.  Be  careful  not  to 
put  them  near  shrubs  with  pink  or  crimson  tones.     If  they  are 


52 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


'^^m^'w 


i^^f> 


^^mmmm 


^hJ^l 


■0t^-r- 


vmt 


^f 


THE  DECIDUOUS,  FLAME-COLORED  AZALEA,  A.  CALENDULACEA 

A  native  of  our  southern  swamps,  it  loves  a  deep  soil  and  a  shady  corner  where  it  strikes  a 

brilliant  note  of  color^in'the  late  Spring 


AZALEAS  AND  CAMELLIAS  53 

kept  separate  or  surrounded  by  masses  of  green  and  against  a 
green  background  they  are  magnificent. 

The  last-mentioned  five  of  these  shrubs  are  deciduous  and 
natives  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  of  the  Georgia  and  Carolina 
swamps,  and  without  exception  have  responded  to  cultivation 
and  become  worthy  of  prominent  places  in  any  garden. 

Nurserymen  advise  the  planting  of  all  the  Azaleas  at  any 
time  from  October  to  April  or  May.  If  they  are  put  out  in  the 
Fall  they  must  be  protected  during  the  first  Winter.  Planted 
after  the  blooming  season  is  over,  in  either  March  or  April,  in  a 
partially  shaded  situation  where  they  are  sheltered  from  the 
heated  Summer  suns,  they  will  go  through  the  Summer's  heat 
and  the  Winter's  cold  and  come  into  full  blossom  the  next  Spring. 
The  main  thing  to  do  is  to  plant  them — ^just  as  many  as  you  can 
aflford — both  of  the  evergreen  and  deciduous  kinds — mass  them, 
group  them,  tend  them,  water  them,  and  next  year,  and  every 
year  thereafter,  enjoy  them. 

For  the  same  reason  that  April  is  the  best  time  to  plant  the 
Azaleas,  it  is  also  the  accepted  time  to  plant  Camellia  japonicas, 
which  attract  so  much  attention  in  our  southern  gardens  and 
are  unquestionably  striking  plants.  The  foliage  is  a  rich,  dark 
shiny  green  and  the  flowers  are  handsome  and  showy.  They 
also  thrive  best  in  fertile,  porous  soils  and  in  partial  shade.  They 
must  have  protection  from  the  Winter's  cold.  They  come  into 
bud  about  Christmas  time,  and  if  the  weather  is  propitious,  the  red 
and  pink  and  vari-colored  japonicas  and  the  pearly  white  Camellias 
will  be  in  full  bloom  by  St.  Valentine's  Day.  The  cold  seems 
not  to  injure  the  leaves,  but  the  buds  and  blossoms  are  very 
tender,  and  often  turn  brown  and  fall  off  just  in  the  midst  of  the 
blooming  season. 

There  is  one  variety,  Mercedes,  a  clear  rose-color,  not  closely 
double,  v/ith  many  bright  yellow  stamens,  that  is  not  only  beauti- 
ful, but  has  a  delicate  odor  that  is  delightful  making  it,  to  me, 
the  most  attractive  of  the  species.  The  waxen  blooms  of  the 
other  varieties,  absolutely  odorless,  seem  like  ghost  flowers. 

These  two  groups  of  evergreen  shrubs,  which  should  be  planted 
in  the  Springtime  instead  of  Fall,  are  generally  considered  more 


54 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


CAMELLIAS-RARE  JEWELS  OF  SOUTHERN  GARDENING 
Their  almost  too-perfect  flowers  appearing  in  Winter  are  always  most  welcome 


AZALEAS  AND  CAMELLIAS  55 

delicate  and  harder  to  grow  successfully  than  the  other  broad- 
leaved  evergreens.  The  Azaleas  do  not  like  a  clay  soil  and  will 
not  grow  in  it.  They  demand  much  leafmold  and  are  very  par- 
ticular as  to  situation.  Given  these  requirements,  remembering 
that  the  Azaleas  particularly  are  of  very  slow  growth,  should 
never  be  cut,  and  should  be  planted  against  a  background  of 
evergreen  shrubbery  or  vines  and  in  masses  close  together,  the 
plantings  will  give  abundant  harvests  of  beauty,  fragrance  and 
garden  joy. 


56 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


EFFECTIVE  USE  OF  CONIFERS  ON  A  FORMAL  TERRACE 
Abelias,  Ligustrum  and  Pittosporum  define  the  terrace  and  lawns  and  Biota  aurea  nana  is 

used  in  the  jars 


A  HAPPY  GROUPING  OF  CYPRESSES  AND  PINES 

Pinus  excelsa  (Bhotan  Pines)  and  Cupressus  pyramidalis  royalii  provide  a  happy  solution 

in  framing  an  entrance  and  screening  a  service  court 


CONIFEROUS  EVERGREENS  57 


CHAPTER  V 


CONIFEROUS  EVERGREENS— FOR  BEAUTY  AND  ACCENT 

^  I  ^HERE  is  nothing  which  so  fitly  typifies  the  spirit  of  the  New 
-■-  South  as  the  majestic  loveHness  of  the  stately  Himalayan 
Cedar,  Cedrus  Deodara.  Its  pyramidal  outlines  tower  skyward 
unrestrained  and  fearless.  Its  roots  dig  deeply  and  lovingly  into 
the  old  red  clay  of  the  Georgia  hills  with  the  same  fondness  with 
which  it  must  cHng  to  Oriental  clay  on  the  heights  that  bound  the 
farther  shores  of  the  Seven  Seas.  Its  ambitions  and  ideals  are 
lofty.  For  just  sixteen  short  years  twin  sisters  have  stood  at 
each  side  of  an  hospitable  doorway  with  which  I  am  well  familiar, 
yet  today  they  lift  their  waving  branches  at  least  sixty  feet  above 
the  sod.  Graceful  and  gentle  and  tenderly  gracious  in  their 
soft  coloring  and  delicate  tracery  of  leaf  and  stem  and  branch, 
yet  strong  to  endure  both  the  Summer's  heat  and  the  Winter's 
cold,  Antaeus-fashion  they  bend  to  touch  the  earth  and  thus 
gain  strength  with  which  to  climb  up  and  up  and  up  on  their 
ambitious  way  to  the  stars. 


THE  SOIL  FOR  DEODARAS 

Where  there  is  room,  where  dignity  and  grace  are  desirable, 
where  soft  coloring  in  the  evergreen  notes  is  needed,  plant  De- 
odaras.  In  choosing  the  situation  for  these  trees  perfect  drainage 
and  plenty  of  clay  in  the  soil  must  be  assured.  This  done,  nothing 
will  give  more  satisfactory  or  more  beautiful  or  quicker  results. 
It  is  better  to  select  trees  that  have  grown  large  enough  to  have 
some  character,  say  from  thirty  inches  to  thirty-six  inches  in 
height,  and  these  can  be  purchased  from  any  reliable  southern 
nursery.     Small  sizes  can  be  had,  but  the  difference  in  strength 


58  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

and  in  rapidity  of  growth  will  amply  repay  the  additional  expense 
for  the  initial  planting  of  the  larger  sizes. 


THE  FORMAL  BEAUTY  OF  THE  CYPRESSES 

With  outlines  more  symmetrical  and  formal,  with  branches 
more  closely  appressed,  with  leafage  more  delicate  in  color  and 
feathery  in  texture  than  the  native  Cedar  {Juniperus  virginiana) 
of  comparatively  rapid  growth  and  with  great  adaptability,  the 
Cypresses  from  many  quarters  of  the  earth  that  grow  easily  and 
beautifully  along  the  lower  Atlantic  and  Gulf  Coast  regions  of 
the  Southern  States  form  a  long  list. 

They  vary  in  color,  in  height,  and  in  contour  and  can  be  secured 
to  suit  almost  any  requirement  of  soil  or  situation.  Where  a 
screen  planting  is  desirable  and  deciduous  plantings  like  the  Pop- 
lars are  used  as  a  background,  the  slower  growing  Cypress  trees 
can  be  put  in  to  fill  the  spaces  and  ultimately  to  make  an  ever- 
green screen.  For  such  positions  Cupressus  Benthami  and  Cu- 
pressus  gracilis  are  equally  good.  C.  Benthami  forms  a  perfect 
cone  with  its  greatest  diameter  five  feet  or  six  feet  from  the  ground. 
Its  leaves  are  feathery  and  of  a  soft  glaucous  green  that  is  almost 
the  same  in  Summer  and  Winter.  C.  Bentha?ni  is  one  of  the  most 
rapid  growers  among  the  evergreen  trees.  It  is  beautiful  in 
every  stage  of  its  history,  but  it  is  more  susceptible  to  cold  than 
C.  gracilis^  and  can  only  be  used  in  warm  sections.  Both  it  and 
C.  gracilis  are  very  fine  trees  for  formal  plantings  to  accent  the 
architectural  notes  in  the  garden  plan  and  for  thickets  along  the 
boundaries. 

Of  a  rich  green  that  is  almost  velvety  black  in  the  deep  shadows 
is  the  pyramidal  Cypress,  Cupressus  Knightiana.  On  the  border 
of  a  plantation  of  Pines  where  the  deep  browns  and  vivid  greens 
of  these  trees  carry  the  same  color  tones,  this  Cypress  is  wonderful. 
Its  broad  base  and  uplifted  arms  with  closely  massed  leaves  are 
not  as  graceful  as  the  softer  colored  and  more  feathery  varieties, 
but  its  beauty  deserves  a  position  of  prominence  and  its  stateli- 
ness  requires  a  dignified  setting. 


CONIFEROUS  EVERGREENS 


59 


60 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


CONIFEROUS  EVERGREENS  61 


OLD-WORLD  CYPRESSES 


For  the  formal  effects  made  famous  by  the  beautiful  gardens 
of  the  Orient  and  Italy  there  are  the  Italian  and  Roman  Cypresses, 
Cupressus  sempervirens  {C.Jastigiatd)  and  the  far-famed  Cupressus 
funebris  so  extensively  used  in  the  temple  courts  of  China.  Both 
of  these  varieties  are  of  easy  and  rapid  growth  and  adapt  them- 
selves readily  to  the  various  soils.  Their  leaves  are  very  dehcate 
and  the  coloring  is  deep  and  rich,  but  not  dark  enough  to  prove 
somber.  Single  specimens  of  these  trees  planted  close  to  the 
boundary  lines  of  a  brick  or  stucco  house  add  dignity  and  grace 
and  carry  the  formal  architectural  lines  of  the  building  into  the 
harmony  of  the  garden  plan. 

The  most  erect  and  shaft-like  of  the  Cypresses  are  Cupressus 
sempervirens  pyramidalis  and  C.  sempervirens  royalii^  the  latter 
being  the  most  columnar  and  erect  of  all.  They  grow  straight 
upward  and  vary  very  little  in  diameter.  Even  though  they 
attain  a  height  of  from  sixty  feet  to  eighty  feet  the  diameter  never 
exceeds  four  feet  or  five  feet  at  the  base  and  at  the  widest  part  of 
the  tree.  They  are  wonderfully  beautiful  and  most  graceful  in  their 
stately  loftiness  as  they  sway  rhythmically  in  the  wandering 
breezes  that  bend  them  to  and  fro  all  through  the  year. 

Edwin  Neuhaus  says,  in  speaking  of  the  beauty  secured  at 
the  Panama-Pacific  Exposition  by  the  Cypress  trees  transplanted 
from  the  old  Spanish  Missions  of  CaHfornia,  that  if  he  had  the 
making  of  California's  laws  he  would  require  every  householder 
to  plant  at  least  six  Cypress  trees,  not  only  for  the  beauty  and 
grace  they  would  give  to  the  present  generation,  but  for  the  joy 
they  would  pass  on  to  those  who  grow  up  in  the  coming  years. 
Not  quite  so  stringent  a  regulation  would  I  urge,  but  for  the 
privileged  sections,  able  to  grow  these  trees,  not  to  do  so  is  neglect 
of  opportunity.  They  not  only  enable  the  planter  to  stress  the 
formal  evergreen  note  in  his  garden  detail  and  to  bridge  the  gap 
between  the  rigid  lines  of  building  and  the  softer  lines  of  the 
garden  scheme,  but  they  introduce  a  note  of  permanency  into 
the  wonderful  color  harmonies  that  are  strong  in  most  southern 
gardens  throughout  the  year. 


62  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

THE  BHOTAN  PINE 

From  the  southern  slopes  of  India  we  have  secured  one  of  the 
best  of  our  trees  of  pyramidal  outHne.  This  is  the  drooping  fir 
of  Hindustan,  Pinus  excelsa,  sometimes  called  the  Bhotan  Pine. 
Of  most  exquisite  grey-green  color,  the  needles  of  this  Pine  are 
utterly  different  in  effect  from  the  upright  Pine  needles  of  our 
native  trees.  It  is  of  very  graceful  habit,  is  easily  grown,  and 
more  informal  in  effect  than  the  Cypress.  The  color  is  much  like 
that  of  the  Himalayan  Cedars,  and  the  two  make  a  delightful 
combination. 

The  greens  in  the  Cypresses,  Arborvitses  and  Pines  vary  so 
greatly  that  it  is  necessary  to  exercise  much  care  in  choosing  them 
lest  the  effect  ultimately  become  as  if  one  had  tried  to  plant  a 
color  card  of  coniferous  trees.  Did  you  ever  see  a  planting  like 
that  ?  Who  has  not  ?  More's  the  pity.  If  in  doubt  about  the 
color  combinations,  find  out  before  you  order  your  plants. 

Pinus  excelsa  is  a  graceful  tree,  of  beautiful  color  and  quick 
growth,  and  is  not  hard  to  transplant  from  the  nursery.  Since 
the  inroads  of  the  home  makers  have  driven  out  the  native  Pines 
and  it  is  almost  impossible  to  grow  them,  this  Bhotan  Pine,  with 
the  Pinus  koraiensisy  the  Korean  Pine  of  dwarf  growth,  and  Pinus 
densiflora^  the  Japanese  Pine,  must  be  used  if  we  do  not  wish  to 
give  up  the  genus  entirely. 

SOME  FORMAL  EVERGREENS 

For  plantings  of  extreme  formality,  for  evergreen  borders, 
where  varying  sizes  are  necessary,  there  is  a  most  formidable  list 
of  the  Arborvitses,  Biotas  and  Thuyas,  from  which  to  choose.  If 
the  nurserymen  would  attach  a  color  chart  to  the  pages  on  which 
they  describe  their  list  of  these  plants,  and  use  standard  uniform 
nomenclature,  it  would  benefit  the  unwary  and  too-trustful 
customers. 

However,  the  Arborvitse  that  is  most  used  in  this  section  is 
Biota  aurea  nana;  and  on  account  of  its  hardiness  it  is  worthy  of 
its  popularity.  The  only  objection  to  it  is  that  it  has  a  strong 
yellowish  tinge  on  the  new  leaves  in  the  Spring,  but  as  this  soon 


CONIFEROUS  EVERGREENS 


63 


CHAMy^CYPARIS  PISIFERA  PLUMOSA 
This,  the  Japanese  plume-Iike  Cypress,  is  the  author's  favorite  among  all  the  members  of 

this  useful  family 


64 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


CONIFEROUS  EVERGREENS  65 

disappears  and  the  green  color  is  predominant  we  plant  it  in  spite 
of  its  variegation  at  the  Springtime — not  because  of  it,  as  so 
many  do.  This  Biota  is  of  comparatively  dwarf  growth  and 
extremely  compact  habit,  and  on  this  account  is  especially  good 
for  urns,  jars,  and  boxes.  With  this,  where  a  taller  form  of  the 
same  coloring  is  needed.  Biota  aurea  pyramidalis  or  B.  conspicua 
may  be  used.  This  becomes  tree-like,  ultimately  growing  from 
twenty  feet  to  twenty-five  feet.  The  Summer  heat  brings  out  the 
green  tones  in  this  tree  also.  Thuya  orientalis  compacta  and 
Thuya  orientalis  globosa  are  two  good  forms  of  sturdy  growth  and 
graceful  habit.  All  these  will  be  satisfactory  and  will  give  imme- 
diate effects. 

The  Retinisporas,  R.  plumosa  and  R.  squarrosa  Veitchii,  are 
two  of  the  most  attractive  conifers  we  have.  The  R.  plumosa  is 
pyramidal  in  outline  and  the  foliage  is  extremely  dainty  and 
Fern-like.  It  turns  brown  in  the  Winter,  but  it  is  not  unattractive 
even  at  that  time.  It  is  broader  at  the  base  than  the  Biotas  and 
does  not  grow  so  tall  as  the  Cypresses,  ultimately.  It  is  a  very 
fine  specimen  tree.  R.  squarrosa  Veitchii  is  of  a  beautiful  blue- 
green  color  and  is  useful  for  cutting  for  house  decoration  and 
makes  a  wonderful  plant  for  accent  on  either  side  of  entrances 
— or  walks  or  drives. 

All  of  these  evergreens  should  be  planted  during  the  Winter 
months.  From  November  to  May  is  the  accepted  planting 
season.  Personally,  late  Fall  and  early  Spring  plantings  have 
been  found  most  satisfactory.  Holes  should  be  dug  both  deep 
and  wide.  There  should  be  plenty  of  good,  rich,  loamy  soil,  and 
six  inches  of  clay  should  always  be  put  in  the  bottom  of  the  hole 
if  the  ground  is  inclined  to  be  sandy.  Water  should  be  used  very 
freely  both  on  the  leaves  and  around  the  roots  during  the  whole 
of  the  first  season  after  planting.  The  long,  hot  Summers  are 
very  trying  on  these  plants.  They  should  never  be  watered 
while  the  sun  is  shining  on  them. 

These  simple  rules  followed,  no  planting  can  be  made  that 
will  give  more  attractive  effects  or  add  more  to  the  beauty  of  the 
home  grounds. 


66 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


OLD-FASHIONED  ROSES 


67 


Frau  Karl  Druschki,  the  handsomest  of  all  white  Roses,  although  a  hybrid  perpetual,  blooms 
more  than  once  during  the  southern  year 


CHAPTER  VI 


OLD-FASHIONED  ROSES— HOW  TO  GROW  THEM 

AS  far  as  the  preparation  of  the  soil  and  general  cultural  direc- 
tions are  concerned,  any  good  article  on  Rose  planting 
applies  to  the  South  no  less  than  to  other  sections.  There,  how- 
ever, we  must  stop  and  hew  out  for  ourselves  a  new  road  to  meet 
the  climatic  and  growing  conditions  that  confront  us. 

Many  years  our  gardens  can  show  Roses  from  early  March 
to  late  November  and  often  December.  South  of  Nashville  no 
protection  is  needed  for  any  varieties;  even  the  tender  Niphetos 
and  the  tenderer  Marechal  Niel  go  safely  through  our  severest 
Winters.  We  might  almost  say,  "Plant  Roses  and  let  them  alone, 
and  warm  sunshine  and  gentle  rains  will  do  the  rest."  If  it  were 
possible  for  me  to  have  only  one  kind  of  a  flower  in  my  garden 
that  one  would  be  a  Rose.  No  other  flower  so  well  repays  one 
for  all  the  attention  showered  upon  it,  nor  does  so  well  without 
care. 

December  and  January  are  always  Rose  planting  and  Rose 
pruning  time  in  the  Southern  States.     After  the  first  heavy  frost 


68 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


the  weak  canes  should  be  cut  out,  and  the  strong  ones  cut  back 
closely  if  long  stems  and  fine  quality  of  blossoms  are  desired. 
One  amateur  Rose  grower,  whose  gardens  are  fanous  for  the 
beauty  and  size  of  the  long-stemmed  flowers,  makes  it  his  invari- 
able rule  to  cut  back  every  Rose  bush  to  within  six  inches  of  the 
ground  and  to  remove  the  weak  shoots  entirely.  One  who  has 
fewer  plants  might  prefer  quantity  of  blossoms  rather  than  size, 
and  if  so,  the  pruning  should  be  less  severe.     The  vigorous  growers 

need  less  pruning  than  the 
weaker,  slower-growing  va- 
rieties. All  plants  should  be 
closely  pruned  when  trans- 
planting. All  but  two  or  three 
of  the  strongest  branches 
should  be  taken  off  and  these 
cut  back  to  within  six  or  seven 
inches  of  the  ground.  The 
hole  in  which  they  are  to  be 
put  should  be  of  ample  size 
and  the  newly  planted  bushes 
need  to  be  kept  well  watered 
and  the  earth  firmed  well 
about  the  roots. 

Roses  vary  as  to  soil  re- 
quirements; most  Climbers 
and  Hybrid  Perpetuals  like 
rich,  heavy  soil — good  clay 
loam;  while  the  nearer  one  ap- 
proaches the  Teas  and  Bour- 
bons the  lighter  and  sandier 
the  soil  may  be. 

Climbing  Roses  must  be 
trimmed  very  slightly.  Of 
course,  all  weak  and  spindly 
growth  should  be  removed 
annually  and  the  side  branches 

Caroline  Testout  Roses  in  my  garden  shortened     in,    but     the     main 


OLD-FASHIONED  ROSES 


69 


RADIANCE,  A  SILVERY  PINK  HYBRID  TEA 
One  of  the  very  best  bedding  and  garden  Roses  we  have 


Stem  must  not  be  disturbed.  All  dead  canes  should  be  removed 
as  they  appear  and  in  the  pruning  of  all  varieties  the  cut  should 
be  clean,  otherwise  the  bruised  stem  will  decay.  The  Tea  Roses 
require  much  less  pruning  than  those  of  any  other  variety.  The 
more  they  are  cut  the  less  they  bloom. 

Much  well-decomposed  manure,  used  both  in  the  Fall  and  in 
the  Spring;  bonemeal  and  liquid  manure  occasionally  as  the 
season  progresses  to  increase  the  flower  crop;  the  ground  always 
free  from  weeds,  and  other  plants;  sunny  positions;  cultivation 
and  water  in  quantity  in  Summer,  particularly  for  the  first  two 
seasons  after  planting;  and  pruning  in  the  Winter,  make  up  the 
price  one  must  pay  for  fine  Roses.  I  do  not  mention  the  use  of 
insecticides,  but  most  often  they  are  necessary.  A  soapy  spray 
to  kill  the  aphids  is  the  worst  that  the  bedding  Roses  ask  for. 
All  in  all,  how  small  the  tax  in  comparison  with  the  beautiful 
returns! 


70  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

In  planting  due  attention  must  be  paid  to  soil  preparation; 
and  while  it  is  better  to  plant  them  as  early  in  the  Winter  as  pos- 
sible, they  may  be  safely  put  out  from  this  time  until  the  middle 
of  May.  The  earlier  the  planting  the  more  promising  the  blos- 
soms for  the  next  season. 

As  far  as  variety  is  concerned,  choice  is  practically  limited 
only  by  the  lists  issued  by  the  nurserymen.  Unfortunately  these 
lists  are  most  often  misleading.  It  is  wiser  always  to  buy  budded 
stock,  and  better  to  secure  plants  that  are  grown  in  the  open 
ground,  and  for  constant  and  varied  bloom,  true  ever-blooming 
qualities,  the  Hybrid  Tea  Roses  will  give  the  best  results. 

The  usual  Rose  garden  in  the  South  is  a  mixed  planting  of 
many  varieties  in  oblong  or  square  beds  planted  in  rows  as  they 
are  in  the  nurseries.  When  one  remembers  the  wonderful  rosa- 
riums of  old  England  with  formal  beds  of  Roses  standing  out  in 
carefully  chosen  color  tones,  always  bounded  by  borders  of  turf 
and  with  the  divisions  and  walks  invariably  of  softest,  velvety 
green  one  hopes  that  some  day  the  landscape  architects  will  be 
able  to  awaken  the  amateur  gardeners  of  the  South  to  their  priv- 
ileges and  start  them  making  such  gardens  on  this  side  of  the 
water.  Small  beds  of  single  colors  framed  in  foregrounds  of  turf 
give  a  proper  setting  for -this  queenly  flower. 

For  the  porch  pillars,  the  pergola,  the  summerhouse,  the 
hedge,  and  the  wire  netting  that  frames  the  tennis  court,  for  the 
trellises  on  the  garage,  or  to  make  a  background  for  the  Roses  in 
the  borders,  there  are  the  multitudes  of  climbers  and  trailers. 
For  evergreen  effects,  the  white  and  pink  Cherokees,  both  single 
and  double,  though  the  former  are  more  beautiful,  and  the  Wichu- 
raianas  can  be  depended  upon  for  quick  growth,  and  wonder- 
ful beauty  of  bloom  and  foliage. 

Slower  of  growth  and  not  evergreen  are  the  pink  and  white 
Dorothy  Perkins,  the  Tausendschon,  and  Philadelphia,  which  is 
almost  a  perpetual  blooming  Crimson  Rambler.  All  of  these 
have  to  be  cut  down  to  the  ground  every  few  years  on  account 
of  the  mildew  to  which  they  are  subject. 

Of  the  old  favorites  we  have  Lamarque,  Devoniensis,  Mal- 
maison.  La  Reine,  Marie  Henriette,  the  Marechal  Niel  and  the 


OLD-FASHIONED  ROSES 


71 


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hj^uiitu 

The  effect  here  would  be  still  better  if  the  plants  were  set  closer  together  and  if  dwarf  Box- 
wood were  used  to  edge  the  beds 


.IB 

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I^^J?^^,^  ^i^^^^^'l 

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^ 

These  plants,  too,  are  entirely  too  far  apart.    Narrower  beds  look  better  and  are  easier  to 

care  for 


GRASS  WALKS  AND  NARROW  BEDS  HELP  ANY  ROSE  GARDEN 


72 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


OLD-FASHIONED  ROSES  73 

Reve  d'Or,  which  carry  us  through  an  unrivaled  scale  of  color 
magnificence.  Many  of  the  old  southern  gardens  show  these 
Roses  of  a  century  old,  kissing  the  topmost  leaves  of  the  tallest 
trees  or  screening  the  porches  up  to  the  third  and  fourth  stories. 
Their  prodigal  wealth  of  blossom  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 

Frau  Karl  Druschki,  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria,  and  the 
Bride  are  the  handsomest  of  the  white  bush  Roses.  Of  the  pink, 
none  are  better  than  the  blush  Malmaison,  the  silvery  pink  Duchesse 
de  Brabant,  the  pink  Devoniensis,  and  Bridesmaid.  Etoile  de 
Lyon,  Francesca  Kruger,  and  Blumenschmidt,  give  us  the  yellow 
and  saffron  tones  of  our  color  scale,  while  Agrippina,  Archduke 
Charles,  and  Papa  Gontier  give  us  the  deeper  tones  of  red. 

For  the  fragrance  of  the  attar  of  roses — and  what  is  a  Rose 
garden  without  its  sweetness  ? — no  garden  should  be  without 
La  France  (even  though  it  is  a  weak  grower).  General  Jacqueminot 
(which  blooms  only  once  a  year)  and  Paul  Neyron. 

The  Rugosas,  Rosa  alba,  and  R.  rubra,  are  usually  classed 
among  the  broad-leaved  evergreens  for  landscape  effects  in  this 
section,  but  they  are  not  evergreen.  They  grow  best  in  a  par- 
tially shaded  situation  and  do  fairly  well  in  the  shrubbery  border. 
But  they  are  never  as  attractive  here  as  they  are  in  the  gardens 
of  the  East. 

If  space  is  limited  and  only  a  few  Roses  can  be  planted,  choose 
one  or  two  of  the  Hybrid  Teas  that  are  really  everblooming,  and 
plant  them  in  masses  or  hedge  effect.  So  many  amateurs  make 
the  grave  mistake  of  trying  to  see  how  many  different  kinds  of 
Roses  they  can  have,  while  the  result  is  far  more  satisfactory, 
both  in  the  garden  and  for  cutting,  if  many  plants  of  a  few  varie- 
ties are  chosen.  I  remember  one  hedge  of  Bridesmaid  Roses 
which  divides  two  small  city  lawns  in  a  nearby  town.  The  Roses 
of  that  border  are  blossoming  almost  all  the  time  and  I  am  always 
so  grateful  for  the  good  taste  which  chose  them  to  be  all  of  the 
same  color  and  kind.  Specialize  on  quality  of  bloom,  if  specialize 
you  must,  and  not  on  number  of  different  kinds,  and  joy  will  not 
only  be  your  portion  but  also  the  portion  of  your  friends,  the 
passing  pubHc. 


74  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

As  the  Rose  fields  of  Turkey  and  Persia  are  famed  for  the 
richness  and  fragrance  of  their  blossoms,  so  ought  the  Rose  gardens 
and  fields  of  the  South  to  be  known.  There  can  be  found  in  no 
other  part  of  the  world  a  more  magnificent  wealth  of  bloom  or 
more  extravagant  depth  of  colors  than  are  to  be  seen  in  the  Rose 
fields  of  the  South.  Hundreds  of  acres  of  Roses  blossoming  at 
one  time  in  the  grounds  of  the  southern  nurseries  is  a  sight  worth 
traveling  far  to  see.  Not  only  do  Roses  adorn  the  gardens  and 
grounds  of  the  rich,  but  even  the  humblest  cottage  will  have  its 
doorway  framed  in  the  fragrant  masses  of  the  old-fashioned  Seven 
Sisters,  the  sweet-scented  Lamarque,  or  the  Magnolia  Rose  of 
the  South,  the  creamy  white  Devoniensis  with  its  rosy  center, 
while  even  the  hedgerows  from  North  Carolina  to  Texas  are 
framed  in  the  rich  dark  green  of  the  Cherokees.  With  the  clear 
petals  of  snowy  white  and  the  massed  stamens  of  pure  golden 
yellow,  sweet  as  the  sweet-briered  Eglantine  of  old  England,  is  it 
any  wonder  that  the  home  of  the  Cherokee  is  called  the  land  of 
sunshine  and  Roses  ? 

From  mid-April  until  June  is  the  time  of  all  the  year  when  one 
most  enjoys  the  growing  things,  for  this  is  the  time  of  Roses  in 
this  section.  White  and  gold,  pink  and  crimson,  American 
Beauties,  La  France,  the  beloved  old  General  Jacqueminot,  the 
clustering  blossoms  of  the  Dorothy  Perkins,  the  clambering  sweet 
old  Teas,  all  make  us  glad  to  be  alive,  glad  to  forget  that  there 
are  cares  and  trials  to  be  borne,  glad  to  remember  that  life  is 
sweet,  that  life  is  beautiful,  that  life  is  worth  the  living,  that 
there  is  a  Heaven,  on  earth — ^just  inside  our  garden  gates. 


MAKING  A  ROSE  GARDEN 


75 


CHAPTER  VII 


MAKING  A  ROSE  GARDEN— TO  LIVE  IN  AND  LOVE 

CAN  one  conceive  of  a  more  fascinating  occupation  for  January 
days  than  that  of  planning  and  planting  a  Rose  garden  ? 
There  are  three  essentials  for  successful  Rose  growing  with  us, 
as  elsewhere:  good  soil,  good  drainage,  plenty  of  sunshine,  prefer- 
ably of  the  morning  sun,  and  if  the  situation  is  sheltered  without 
being  shaded,  so  much  the  better.  Deep  digging,  artificial  drain- 
age, if  necessary,  rich,  warm,  loamy  soil,  with  some  sand,  and 
always  clay  for  the  Hybrid  Perpetuals,  are  the  first  steps  in  the 
creation  of  the  Rose  garden. 

More  and  more  garden  makers  of  the  South  are  coming  to 
realize  that  the  planting  of  Roses  in  number  sufficient  to  furnish 
blossoms  for  the  house  from  month  to  month  does  not  necessarily 
make  a  Rose  garden.  Far  from  it.  To  be  a  garden  worthy  of 
the  name  there  is  another  requirement  which  needs  as  close  con- 
sideration as  the  three  that  are  usually  stressed  first.  The  Rose 
garden  must  be  a  beautiful  picture,  in  season  and  out  of  season. 
Usually  no  artist  would  call  that  part  of  the  grounds  devoted  to 
Rose  growing  either  beautiful  or  worthy  of  his  brush  and  canvas 
at  any  season.  This  is  all  wrong.  Does  not  the  "Queen  of  the 
Garden"  deserve  a  setting  fit  for  her  majestic  grace  of  line  and 
wondrous  beauty  of  color  and  tone  ? 


76 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


m^M-^^^x 


Then,  the  first  requisite  of  a  Rose  garden  or  a  Rose  border  is 
a  background.  It  may  be  an  evergreen  hedge,  an  Ivy-covered 
wall,  a  trellis  or  pergola  the  lines  of  which  are  buried  in  the  leaves 
of  some  evergreen  climber.  It  may  be  a  border  of  shrubbery 
that  is  planted  along  the  boundaries  of  a  city  lot  or  an  estate. 
But  whatever  and  wherever  it  is  there  must  be  no  question  about 
its  abiding  qualities.  For  the  foreground  the  soft  greens  of  the 
evergreen  turf  of  the  South  forms  a  most  worthy  treatment. 
The  middle  distance  will  be  filled  with  the  glowing  colors  and  rich 
shades  of  the  Roses  themselves.  If  the  walks  must  be  brick  or 
gravel  then  the  beds  of  the  Roses  should  have  an  edging  of  turf 
not  less  than  eight  inches  wide  and  inside  this  edging  dwarf  Box- 
wood, or  Violets,  or  evergreen 
Candytuft  will  make  a  dark  green 
ribbon  to  tie  the  harmonies  of  the 
Roses  to  the  velvet  greens  of  the 
turf.  If  grass  walks  are  possible 
they  are  the  most  satisfactory  in 
every  way  and  the  Rose  beds 
should  then  have  the  same  edging 
of  Candytuft  or  the  dwarf  Box. 

Since  Boxwood  of  all  varieties 
is  almost  impossible  to  secure  in 
quantity  and  is  prohibitive  in 
price,  for  the  dwarf  evergreen 
edging  nothing  is  better  than  II?eris 
sempervirens,  the  Candytuft.  This 
little  plant  begins  to  bloom  as 
early  as  January,  and  until  April 
is  a  continuous  delight  in  its  snowy 
masses  that  carpet  the  ground. 
Secure  good,  strong  plants  from 
the  nursery,  place  them  six  inches 
apart  and  in  a  very  short  while 
they  will  be  gladdening  your  heart 
Lady  Banksia  Roses  although  riotously       as  well  as  your  garden  with  their 

luxuriant,  are  at  home  only  m  the  i       n  r 

warmer  sections  lovely  flOwer  faceS. 


^^if^i^-. 


#.  i^-'v  ^**' 


MAKING  A  ROSE  GARDEN 


77 


THE  POPULAR  POLYANTHA  OR  BABY  RAMBLER  TYPE 

Roses  like  this  white  Catherine  Zeimet  often  bloom  continuously  from  April  until  Christmas 

—if  you  keep  the  blossoms  cut 


78 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


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^-^       »-     to 


MAKING  A  ROSE  GARDEN  79 

Hedera  helix,  the  English  Ivy,  and  Vinca  major,  the  trailing 
Myrtle,  that  everybody  in  the  South  calls  Periwinkle,  if  kept 
within  bounds  by  regular  clipping  may  also  be  used  to  form  the 
boundary  between  the  walks  and  beds  of  the  Rose  garden  or  of 
the  perennials  in  the  formal  garden  devoted  to  their  growth. 

In  a  formal  Rose  garden  with  a  bird  bath  or  a  sundial  as  the 
central  axis  in  the  midst  of  grass  walks  and  Box-edged  beds,  as 
above  outlined,  the  spaces  for  the  Roses  may  be  filled  with  the 
silvery  pinks  of  the  Killarneys,  or  the  exquisite  Radiance,  the 
stately  Lady  Alice  Stanley,  or  the  dainty  Bridesmaid,  all  Roses 
of  tested  value  and  equally  desirable.  Caroline  Testout  is  another 
bedding  Rose  of  prodigal  wealth  of  blossoms,  and  beds  of  these 
varieties  will  give  pleasure  and  satisfaction  without  end. 

For  the  white  Roses  that  make  the  high  lights  in  this  garden 
canvas  we  will  put  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria,  the  silvery  White 
Maman  Cochet,  the  magnificent  Frau  Karl  Druschki  and  the 
delicately  lovely  Bride.  For  the  sunlight  of  the  garden,  Etoile 
de  Lyon,  Madame  Blumenschmidt  and  Franz  Deegen  form  yel- 
low beds  of  unrivaled  color.  Blending  with  these  shades  of  gold 
we  have  the  orange  lights  to  be  found  in  Sunburst,  the  coppery 
yellow  Francesca  Kruger,  the  Indian  yellow  Mrs.  Aaron  Ward, 
Madame  Ravary,  and  Lady  Hillingdon,  so  that  these  varieties 
with  their  tones  of  yellow,  orange  and  salmon  pink  carry  the 
color  scale  through  the  warm  tones  into  the  deeper  pinks  of  Amer- 
ican Beauty  and  George  Arends,  and  lead  us  naturally  to  the 
deeper  crimson  and  reds  of  Ulrich  Brunner,  J.  B.  Clark  and 
Meteor,  and  that  reddest  and  best  of  all  everblooming  red  Roses, 
Chateau  de  Clos  Vougeot.  All  of  these  Roses  will  not  only  give 
an  abundance  of  bloom  in  the  Spring  but  most  of  them  bloom 
intermittently  all  Summer  and  are  gorgeous  from  August  until 
the  late  frosts  of  November  and  December  bring  Winter  to  the 
garden. 

Framing  such  a  garden  of  formal  beds  there  should  be  an 
enclosing  wall  formed  of  a  hedge  of  Amoor  Privet,  Ligustriim 
amurense,  or  Arborvitaes.  Against  this  background  the  more 
vigorous  planting  like   the  Bourbons,   Souvenir  de  Malmaison, 


80  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Hermosa  and  the  Burbank,  with  the  Teas,  Duchesse  de  Brabant, 
Devoniensis  and  others  may  be  made.  Here  alone  will  be  found 
room  for  the  very  vigorous  growing  ruddy  Richmond;  the  Frau 
Karl  Druschki  will  be  better  in  this  situation  than  in  the  beds 
and  the  Paul  Neyron  will  not  look  so  scraggy  if  placed  here. 
Winter  pruning  of  the  Roses  in  this  situation  would  keep  them 
either  lower  than  or  on  a  level  with  the  wall.  If  space  does  not 
permit  the  garden  of  Roses  a  border  or  hedge  against  an  Ivy- 
covered  wall  or  an  evergreen  planting  of  any  kind  is  most  artistic 
and  always  beautiful  and  satisfactory. 

BABY  RAMBLER  ROSES 

For  a  planting  that  promises  the  minimum  of  work  and  the 
maximum  of  results,  both  for  cut  flowers  in  the  house  and  for 
blossoms  in  the  borders,  there  is  nothing  that  will  equal  the  many 
kinds  of  Baby  Rambler  Roses.  Many  people  confuse'  these  with 
the  Wichuraiana  hybrids  and  the  Rambler  Roses,  and  pass  them 
by  in  the  catalogues  without  reading  about  them.  The  Rambler 
Roses  in  the  South  are  most  prone  to  mildew  and  are  avoided  for 
that  reason. 

The  Baby  Ramblers  are  the  cleanest,  sweetest,  and  loveliest 
Roses  ever  planted.  They  give  nine  solid  months  of  bloom. 
Last  year  in  March  I  planted  250  of  these  Roses  in  a  border  two 
feet  wide  to  separate  a  grass  walk  from  a  center  lawn,  and  there 
was  not  a  single  day  from  mid-April  to  Christmas  that  those  little 
bushes  were  not  masses  of  the  soft  pink  clusters  of  Baby  Dorothy 
Perkins  Roses.     The  catalogue  name  is  Annie  Muller. 

Catherine  Zeimet  is  the  white  of  this  Rose.  Louise  Walter 
is  the  softest  of  flesh  pinks,  with  a  cup-like  individual  bloom,  and 
the  outer  edge  of  the  petals  Hned  with  a  deeper  touch  of  pink. 
The  fullclusters  look  like  the  branches  of  Baby  Roses  that  we  put 
on  the  hats  of  the  tiny  little  girls.  They  are  also  clean  and  fra- 
grant and  absolutely  everblooming. 

Of  the  reds,  Erna  Teschendorf?  is  the  reddest,  while  Madame 
de  Norbert  Levavasseur  is  the  color  of  the  Crimson  Rambler. 
All  of  them  are  good.     The  California  Rose,  Cecile  Brunner,  is 


MAKING  A  ROSE  GARDEN  81 

not  only  a  favorite  but  especially  deserves  its  popularity.  It  is 
the  perfection  of  Rose  form,  a  Killarney  in  miniature,  of  a  creamy 
color  with  deeper  saffron  tones  in  the  heart,  and  its  clusters  of 
blossoms  are  not  only  deliciously  fragrant  but  continuously 
present.     Marie  Pavie  is  like  this  in  white  with  pink  center. 

George  Elger  is  a  Polyantha  like  the  Cecile  Brunner,  but  gives 
the  yellow  note  in  these  plantings.  This  is  truly  an  everblooming 
Rose.  The  clusters  of  buds  are  pure  saffron  yellow,  exquisite 
in  color  and  form,  they  open  very  quickly  on  the  bushes  and  are 
almost  white  when  in  full  bloom.  This  is  a  very  desirable  plant- 
ing. These  dainty  little  Roses  are  also  useful  for  the  large  beds 
of  the  informal  gardens.  For  the  Rose  borders  or  the  beds  in 
the  formal  plantings.  Winter  carpets  of  Pansies  and  Violas  are 
charming  and  the  Roses  seem  to  bloom  more  freely  for  having 
had  their  company. 

The  hardiness  of  the  Tea  and  Noisette  Roses  in  the  South 
enables  us  to  plant  these  vigorous  and  rampant  climbers  on  trel- 
lises, tea-houses,  arbors  and  pergolas  and  revel  in  their  boun- 
teous beauty  and  fragrance  from  year  to  year  and  almost  from 
month  to  month.  Long  walks  over  which  are  arbors  wreathed 
in  the  climbing  forms  of  Devoniensis,  Malmaison  (which  are 
nearly  evergreen),  Lamarque,  Reve  d'Or,  Marechal  Niel  and 
Cloth  of  Gold,  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria  and  Reine  Marie  Hen- 
riette  are  scenes  of  unexampled  loveliness  from  month  to  month. 
All  of  these  are  vigorous  and  hardy  climbers  and  make  wonderful 
Summer  screens  for  the  second-story  sleeping  porches  as  well  as 
for  the  lower  plantings. 

For  small  arches  and  porch  pillars  it  is  better  to  plant  the  less 
vigorous  varieties  Hke  the  Ramblers  and  Wichuraiana  hybrids. 
Of  the  latter  the  Lady  Gay  and  Dorothy  Perkins  are  the  best 
known  pink,  while  for  yellow  tones  there  is  Gardenia,  for  the 
white,  Alberic  Barbier,  and  for  the  deeper  color,  Ferdinand  Rous- 
sel,  which  is  wine-red.  The  single-flowered  Jersey  Beauty  and 
the  red  Hiawatha,  with  its  white  center,  are  also  very  attractive. 
These  Roses  may  be  trained  to  the  desired  height  and  then  the 
branches,  if  allowed  to  droop,  will  form  graceful  festoons  of  lovely 
blossoms  at  the  annual  Springtime  harvest.     These  hybrids  are 


82 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


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A  rough  stone  wall  and  deeply  recessed  stairway  draped  with  Silver  Moon  Roses  makes 
one  of  the  loveliest  bits  of  Mr.  Peter  Bisset's  garden  in  Washington,  D.  C. 


almost  evergreen  and  very  free  from  insect  pests  and  for  this 
reason  perhaps  are  more  popular  in  the  South  than  the  Ramblers, 
all  of  which  are  well  known  but  not  so  vigorous  here  as  elsewhere. 

For  evergreen  screens,  for  covering  walls  and  terraces  or 
wherever  an  evergreen  effect  is  needed,  the  old  wild  Cherokee 
Rose  of  the  South,  Rosa  laevigata,  is  recommended.  The  newer 
pink  Cherokee  is  also  very  lovely  and  both  of  these,  while  rampant 
growers,  may  be  kept  in  bounds  by  pruning.  The  Banksia  Roses 
in  snowy  white  and  primrose  yellow,  with  thornless  stems  and 
delicate  green  leaves,  are  not  nearly  so  well  known  as  they  deserve 
to  be.  Annually  the  violet-scented  clusters  of  blossoms  cover 
the  long,  graceful  drooping  stems  to  the  very  tip. 

I  saw  recently  a  white  Banksia  which  covered  the  entire  south 
wall  of  a  house  from  the  ground  to  the  roof  and  had  begun  to 
clamber  over  the  eaves  which  extended  over  the  second  story. 
In  April  this  Rose  vine  is  a  solid  wall  of  snowy  lovehness  and 
even  in  Midwinter  it  is  charming  in  its  deep  green  dress.  These 
Roses  are  not  quite  so  hardy  as  the  Cherokee,  but  are  well  worth 
while  for  all  the  lower  Southern  and  Gulf  Coast  States. 


MAKING  A  ROSE  GARDEN 


83 


84 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


MARCH  ACTIVITIES  85 


CHAPTER  VIII 


MARCH  ACTIVITIES— THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  SUMMER 

GARDEN 

THE  women  of  other  sections  of  our  United  States  may  cover 
their  gardens  with  wrappings  of  brown  leaves  and  let  them 
sleep  all  the  long  Winter  through  tucked  away  under  warm  blankets 
of  soft,  white  snow,  but  not  so  may  southern  women  rest  from  their 
labors.  Their  gardens  must  be  kept  in  blossom  all  the  year. 
The  Violets  and  Tea  Olives  come  with  Christmas;  January  brings 
the  Narcissus  and  Snowdrops;  February  wakes  the  Hyacinths, 
the  multi-colored  Japonicas  and  the  pearly  Camellias,  and,  by 
the  time  the  March  winds  blow,  the  garden  is  in  its  early  Spring 
attire. 

March  is  preeminently  garden-waking  and  garden-making 
time  in  the  South.  A  month  later  is  the  rule  for  other  sections. 
The  regular  March  work  means  the  starting  of  the  Summer  garden. 
The  seed  of  Salvias,  Verbenas  and  Antirrhinums  must  be  planted 
in  boxes  and  also  the  vegetables.  Tomatoes  and  Peppers.  In 
sunny  situations,  where  they  are  to  bloom,  are  placed  the  seed 
of  dwarf  Nasturtiums,  Morning  Glories,  dwarf  Helianthus,  Ager- 
atum.  Sweet  Alyssum,  annual  Delphiniums,  and  Marvel  of  Peru. 

Of  the  Salvias,  Ball  of  Fire  and  Bonfire  are  most  reliable  and 
satisfactory,  both  as  to  quality  of  bloom  and  length  of  time  of 
flowering.  The  Salvias  can  be  depended  on  in  any  situation, 
whether  sun  or  shade,  provided  the  soil  is  rich  and  mellow.  The 
seed  is  rather  hard  to  germinate,  and  needs  especial  care  in  plant- 
ing and  in  seeing  that  it  does  not  dry  out  after  germinating. 

The  Giant  Antirrhinums  and  Mammoth  Verbenas  in  white, 
pink  and  red,  should  be  planted  in  the  seed  boxes  or  beds  and 
transplanted  later  into  permanent  positions  in  the  borders.     They 


86  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

germinate  easily,  grow  only  in  sunny  positions,  but  give  most 
beautiful  effects.  For  length  of  time  of  flowering,  for  cut  flowers 
and  for  fragrance,  nothing  is  finer  than  the  Antirrhinums.  The 
first  stem  that  comes  up  is  apt  to  be  very  tender;  this  should  be 
pinched  off,  and  the  plant  then  becomes  strong  and  stocky  and 
the  flower  stalks  come  up  by  dozens.  The  colors  are  soft  and 
velvety  and  the  blooming  time  is  for  several  months  in  the  Sum- 
mer, then  a  rest  period,  and  then  again  a  season  of  bloom  that 
lasts  from  February  to  July  and  August.  All  from  one  planting. 
The  Verbenas  do  not  stop  blooming  for  more  than  a  month  or 
two  in  the  early  Winter.  A  mass  of  scarlet  Verbenas  in  the  shrub- 
bery borders  in  Winter  is  a  most  charming  picture.  Both  of  these 
plantings  may  be  considered  and  treated  as  perennials  in  the 
South. 

One  March  I  planted  two  packages  of  Dahlia  seed.  Twentieth 
Century  or  Orchid-flowered  and  Double  Cactus,  and  no  planting 
that  I  have  ever  made  gave  me  such  returns  in  brilliance  and 
beauty  as  did  those  seeds.  They  were  planted  in  boxes  and 
transplanted  when  strong  enough  to  the  background  of  the  borders. 
There  must  have  been  at  least  one  hundred  plants.  They  were 
cut  back  and  treated  exactly  as  were  those  which  were  already 
rooted,  and  when  the  Fall  months  came  on,  from  early  September 
until  late  frost  in  November,  the  garden  was  ablaze  with  their 
beauty. 

Zinnias,  as  we  know  them  now,  deserve  a  place  in  every  garden. 
They  should  be  planted  in  the  open  at  this  time.  Use  Dwarf 
Large-flowering  for  masses  of  color  on  the  edges  of  the  borders 
and  the  Giant  varieties  for  the  backgrounds.  The  mixed  colors 
should  never  be  bought.  If  the  white  and  salmon-pink  are 
planted  near  together  the  result  is  good.  The  scarlet  varieties 
are  wonderfully  bright  and  most  effective  if  planted  with  the 
white  Petunias  or  Phlox  and  with  the  Salvias.  The  crimson 
varieties  are  to  be  avoided,  for  they  do  not  come  true  to  color, 
and  then  the  magenta  tones  are  projected  into  the  color  scheme 
to  the  dismay  of  the  artistic  gardener. 

Asters  make  stronger  plants  when  the  seed  is  sown  in  the 
sunny  borders  where  they  are  to  bloom,  although  they  grow  fairly 


MARCH  ACTIVITIES 


87 


88 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


MARCH  ACTIVITIES  89 

well  in  partial  shade.  If  the  early-branching  and  the  late-branch- 
ing kinds  are  used,  a  succession  of  many  weeks  of  flowers  may  be 
secured.  My  preference  is  for  the  white,  pink  and  pale  lavender 
of  the  above  varieties,  and  nothing  that  grows  in  my  garden  gives 
more  beauty  and  satisfaction. 

Cannas  in  the  South  do  not  have  to  be  taken  up  in  the  Fall, 
and  they  multiply  so  rapidly  that  care  must  be  exercised  in  placing 
them  lest  they  overrun  their  more  delicate  and  less  obtrusive 
garden  neighbors.  Naturalized  in  the  lawn,  against  fences, 
planted  in  clumps  in  chimney  corners,  or  where  a  temporary 
screen  is  needed,  they  make  a  rich  and  beautiful  background. 
Careful  attention  must  be  given  to  color,  however;  for,  while 
hedges  of  either  yellow  or  orange  or  red  varieties  are  good,  those 
of  the  mixed  colors  are  an  abomination.  For  a  screen,  the  tall 
kinds  are  best,  while,  for  a  low  hedge  or  clumps  in  the  perennial 
borders,  the  shorter  kinds  are  to  be  preferred.  There  are  Mme. 
Alfred  Conard  in  delicate  tones  of  pink,  the  white  and  cream  and 
primrose  Eureka,  the  very  rich  shades  of  red  King  Humbert  and 
Meteor  in  the  dwarf  varieties,  and  President  as  the  best  scarlet. 
Masses  of  these  in  the  borders  are  very  effective. 

Perennials  that  have  become  crowded  and  need  to  be  separated 
should  be  cared  for  now.  Veronicas,  Physostegias,  perennial 
Phlox,  Gaillardias,  and  all  the  Summer  bulbs  and  roots  should  be 
put  in.  The  Summer-blooming  shrubs  and  the  lawn  should  have 
a  Spring  treatment  of  fertilizer.  Be  generous  with  the  manure 
and  the  bonemeal  and  rich  blossoming  will  repay  you. 

If  untoward  conditions  have  prevented  the  making  of  a  lawn, 
begin  it  at  once.  Have  the  soil  deeply  spaded,  thoroughly  en- 
riched, plant  the  most  carefully  selected  evergreen  lawn  grass  seed, 
and  in  the  Fall  it  will  be  necessary  only  to  reseed  in  order  for  you 
to  have  from  March  to  March  a  turf  that  is  green  and  rich  and 
beautiful. 

If  there  is  any  time  left  over  after  the  busy  day's  work  is  done, 
after  the  seeds  are  all  carefully  packed  away,  the  roots  and  bulbs 
planted  where  they  should  be,  the  blue  skies,  the  robins  that  nest 
in  the  tree  tops,  and  the  wonderful  beauty  of  the  waking  world 
will  gladden  your  eyes  and  rejoice  your  heart,  for  March  is  the 


90 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


MARCH  ACTIVITIES 


91 


The  wild  Rosa  setigera,  unlike  the  Cherokee,  has  deciduous  foUage;   it  gives  similar  results 
in  the  higher  latitudes  where  the  Cherokee  will  not  grow 


resurrection  month  in  the  land  of  Cypress,  Corn  and  Cotton, 
below  Mason  and  Dixon's  line.  My  garden  book  shows  that  for 
three  succeeding  years,  March  winds  have  brought  to  me  the 
spicy  sweetness  of  the  Hyacinths,  have  opened  the  golden  bells 
of  the  Daffodils,  and  the  rich  cups  of  the  Iris  and  Tulips.  March 
comes  in  laden  with  the  breath  of  Violets  and  goes  out  shaking 
the  snowy  petals  of  the  Spiraeas,  lighting  the  flaming  torches  of 
the  fiery  Cydonias,  and  scattering  sunshine  under  the  long  stems 
of  the  fragrant  yellow  Jasmines  and  dainty  Banksia  Roses. 


92 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


APRIL  LEAVES  93 


CHAPTER  IX 


APRIL  LEAVES— FROM  MY  GARDEN  BOOK 

EVERY  man  or  woman  who  makes  a  garden  should  keep  a 
garden  calendar  or  book.  Mine  is  a  small  blankbook  about 
seven  by  five  inches — small  enough  to  slip  easily  into  my  hand- 
bag, and  thus  enable  me  to  make  my  entries  either  at  home  or 
abroad.  The  records  are  written  across  each  double  page,  which 
represents  the  record  of  a  week  in  garden  operations.  It  is  really 
a  logbook  of  my  journey  on  the  road  to  garden  success,  and, 
because  the  journeying  was  so  rough  at  first,  and  mistakes  were 
so  frequent,  the  first  entry  on  each  page  is  one  of  encouragement 
— that  of  the  blossoms,  then  the  buds,  the  planting  operations, 
and,  lastly,  notes  or  remarks. 

When  entries  of  planting  are  made,  whether  of  seeds,  or  peren- 
nials, or  shrubs,  the  situation  is  also  noted,  and,  as  all  the  original 
entries  are  written  with  ink,  a  later  entry  in  pencil  is  made  if  it 
is  necessary  to  note  that  the  work  is  a  failure.  At  first  there 
were  many  "n.  g.'s." 

The  book  is  a  complete  record  of  what  is  planted,  when  it  is 
done,  where  it  is  placed,  how  it  grows,  and  what  the  ultimate 
result  is.  Experiments  are  noted  with  especial  care.  Perhaps 
it  would  seem  an  arduous  task;  but,  systematized  in  this  way, 
it  really  has  taken  only  a  few  minutes  each  week,  and  has  been 
worth  much  to  me.  I  copy  the  April  leaves  of  last  year  that  the 
reader  may  see  how  simple  and  yet  how  valuable  a  record  it  is. 
The  pencil  notations  are  put  in  parentheses: 

April  1  to  8 

Blooming.  Tulips,  very  fine;  Hyacinths;  Crocuses;  Daffodils; 
Violets;  Pansies,  very  few;  Devoniensis  Rose;  Banksia  Roses,  east 
border  (shade). 


94  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Azalea  indica,  white  and  pink.  Beautiful.  Northern  ex- 
posure, full  shade,  early  morning  sun  only. 

Budding.     All  Roses,  all  shrubs. 

Planted.  Seed  o^  Phlox  Brummondii.,  west  border  front  garden, 
shade.     (N.  g.  on  account  of  lack  of  sunlight.) 

Nasturtiums  on  west  side  of  driveway,  full  sun,  (good). 

Grass  seed  in  back  lawn,  (fine). 

April  8  to  15 

Blossoms.     Same  as  last  week. 

Germinated.     Asters  and  Zinnias  in  borders;    Petunias  in  box. 

Remarks.     Radishes  for  the  table  daily. 

Hyacinth  and  Daffodil  bulbs  removed  from  porch  boxes  and 
Summer  Ferns  planted  in  same.  House  plants.  Ferns,  Palms 
and  Pines  repotted. 

April  15  to  22 

Blossoms.  Azalea  indica.  Grand.  Philadelphus  coronarius 
or  Syringa,  east  border,  shade.     Very  fine. 

Kerria  japonica,  Japanese  Globe  Flower,  west  border,  (shade). 

Solfaterre  Rose,  climbing,  on  west  side  of  front  porch,  (full 
sun). 

Pansies  and  Tulips  in  all  borders. 

Devoniensis  Rose,  climbing;  red  Roses,  pink  Roses  in  Rose 
garden,  (full  sun). 

Germinated.     All  seed  in  boxes  and  borders. 

Remarks.  Radishes  and  Lettuce  for  the  table  daily.  Very 
fine. 

April  22  to  30 

Blossoms.  Pansies  everywhere.  Roses  in  full  bloom  in  Rose 
garden;  glorious.     Syringa  beautiful. 

Transplanted.  Tomatoes  and  Peppers  into  full  sun  of  veg- 
etable garden. 

Thinned  out  Asters,  Zinnias,  and  Helianthus. 

Perennial  Phlox,  all  white,  into  east  and  west  borders  front 
garden.     Sun  and  shade.     (Results  excellent  in  both  situations.) 


APRIL  LEAVES  95 

Remarks.  Planted  hedge  of  Hollyhocks  between  front  and 
back  gardens.  Full  sun.  (Although  planted  several  weeks  late 
they  were  very  beautiful.) 

Lettuce  and  Radishes  for  the  table. 

As  last  year  was  the  first  time  I  attempted  to  raise  Pansies 
from  seed,  I  made  careful  entries  of  my  operations,  and,  tabulating 
these,  I  find  the  life  history  of  my  beautiful  blossoms  as  follows: 

September  15 

Planted.  Giant  Trimardeau  Pansy  seed  of  the  following 
varieties;  Adonis,  hght  blue;  Emperor  William,  deep  blue;  Fire 
King,  mahogany  and  gold;  Golden  Gem,  rich  yellow;  King  of 
the  Blacks;  Lord  Beaconsfield,  blue-violet;  Snow  Queen,  white 
with  yellow  eye;  Striped,  white  with  purple  eyes;  Yellow,  with 
dark  center. 

The  seeds  were  planted  in  a  shallow  box,  in  well-prepared  soil, 
the  different  varieties  in  separate  rows,  and  kept  carefully  mois- 
tened and  covered  with  glass  until  germination  had  taken  place. 

October  15 
Pansies  up.     Four  leaves. 

January  10 

Pansies  transplanted  into  sunny  borders.  (January  11  to 
15,  heaviest  snowfall  in  the  history  of  our  city.  Pansies  unpro- 
tected.) 

April  1  to  8 

Pansies  slowly  coming  into  bloom. 

April  15  to  June  15 

The  same  entry  was  made,  "Pansies  everywhere,"  for  eight 
consecutive  weeks.  (They  were  picked  daily  by  the  hundreds 
and  this  lengthened  the  time  of  bloom.) 


96  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

June  21 

Pansies  over.     Plants  thrown  out. 

They  were  planted  in  the  borders  next  to  the  Violets,  which 
separate  the  flowers  from  the  lawn,  and  the  colors  were  so  massed 
that  when  they  came  into  bloom  the  varieties  were  distinct. 
The  effect  was  very  striking  and  beautiful. 

For  December  and  Winter  bloom  it  is  necessary  to  germinate 
and  carry  the  seedlings  under  cover,  on  account  of  the  heat  at 
the  time  of  planting.  For  this  reason  it  is  easier  and  more  satis- 
factory to  secure  the  earlier  plantings  from  the  nurserymen. 

From  the  record  it  will  be  seen  that  I  have  in  my  garden  book 
a  complete  garden  guide,  and  am  enabled  by  its  help  to  repeat 
my  successes  and  to  avoid  my  mistakes.  I  could  easily  multiply 
instances  that  would  serve  to  show  how  this  little  calendar  of  my 
weekly  garden  progress  has  helped  me  to  gain  garden  joy.  Not 
the  least  of  its  pleasant  features  is  that  it  makes  of  the  garden  a 
permanent  possession;  for  is  not  memory  possession  ?  It  is 
easy  to  recall  the  beauty  and  sweetness  of  the  flowers  as  I  turn 
over  its  almost  fragrant  leaves.  As  I  read  on  the  April  pages, 
"Pansies  everywhere,"  my  memory  gives  me  a  glowing  picture 
of  their  bright  faces  and  rich  colors  in  the  borders  and  in  the 
bowls  and  vases,  which  brought  joy  not  only  to  me,  but  to  many, 
many  of  my  friends.  I  can  see  the  rhythmic  beauty  of  my  Pansy 
color  scale,  with  its  snowy  masses  of  white  melting  into  the  deli- 
cate blues,  which  again  darkened  into  the  deeper  tones.  I 
remember  the  golden  glories  of  the  yellow  blending  with  the  rich 
harmonies  of  the  mauves,  turning  again  into  violets  and  reds  and 
blacks  and,  whether  in  the  garden  or  in  the  rooms,  always  and 
everywhere  fragrant  and  beautiful.  Ten  weeks  of  such  won- 
derful harmony  are  enough  garden  joy  to  balance  the  mistakes 
and  failures  of  a  year. 

"Shirley  Poppies"  reminds  me  that  never  were  any  flowers 
more  enjoyed  by  a  whole  town  than  those  grown  from  one-half 
ounce  of  seed  in  the  250  feet  of  border  of  the  Sumter  (S.  C.) 
Memorial  Park.  They  were  cut  daily  by  hundreds.  Little 
children,  old  men,  pretty  girls,  sturdy  boys,  charming  women. 


APRIL  LEAVES 


97 


98 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


WHEN  THE  SHIRLEY  POPPIES  BLOOM 
It  is  April  in  my  garden,  and  in  my  heart 


APRIL  LEAVES  99 

and  Negro  workmen  came  to  the  Memorial  Park  for  Popples. 
No  one  was  turned  away  empty  handed. 

The  flowers  went  to  the  schools,  they  brightened  countless 
homes,  they  graced  receptions,  they  were  placed  on  the  altars  of 
the  churches,  they  softened  the  harshness  of  new-made  graves, 
and  they  gave  pleasure  to  numberless  visitors. 

The  soil  in  the  park  is  a  very  light  sandy  loam  with  a  clay 
subsoil  about  three  feet  underneath.  The  sand  is  so  porous  that 
no  water  is  held  in  it.  In  the  Spring  of  1920,  shrubbery  beds  were 
prepared  by  digging  down  to  this  clay  subsoil  and  removing  much 
of  the  top  sand.  Then  a  layer  of  stable  manure,  mostly  fresh 
because  that  was  all  that  was  available,  was  placed  in  the  trench 
and  the  sandy  topsoil  was  replaced.  This  made  as  nearly  ideal  a 
shrubbery  foundation  as  was  possible  under  the  circumstances. 

In  November  the  only  preparation  for  the  Poppy  seed  was  to 
clear  away  all  grass  and  weeds  and  rake  the  ground  smooth. 
This  was  done  in  the  foreground  of  an  evergreen  shrubbery  border 
and  the  seed  of  mixed  Shirley  Poppies  sown  broadcast  on  November 
15th,  the  bed  being  about  three  feet  wide. 

The  plants  were  then  left  absolutely  alone  all  Winter;  they 
were  not  even  weeded  or  thinned  out.  Other  work  on  the  street 
trees  kept  the  men  busy  and  it  was  not  until  the  first  week  of  April 
that  they  came  back.  Then  the  Poppy  buds  were  beginning  to 
open.  Weeds  were  pulled  out  of  the  border  but  no  thinning  was 
done.  On  April  9th  a  lawn  party  was  given  in  the  park  in  order 
that  the  women  might  see  and  enjoy  the  Poppies. 

Many  boxes  of  buds  were  sent  to  xAugusta  with  no  other 
preparation  for  shipment  than  wrapping  in  waxed  paper  imme- 
diately after  cutting.  One  friend  wrote,  "When  the  box  of  Poppy 
buds  came  on  Sunday,  they  were  a  mystery.  On  Monday,  the 
opening  calyxes  and  unfolding  petals  were  an  ecstasy.  On  Tues- 
day they  are  the  glory  of  the  whole  house.  I  thank  you  for 
remembering  me  in  so  colorful  a  way."  One  box  sent  on  Monday 
furnished  decorations  for  a  party  on  Friday  and  were  the  wonder 
and  admiration  of  all  the  guests. 

On  June  3rd  the  plants  were  pulled  up  and  thrown  out,  having 
provided  eight  consecutive  weeks  of  beauty.     They  were  all  of 


100 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


PANSIES  AND  SPANISH  IRIS 
And  Roses  coming  into  bloom  combine  to  make  April  gay  in  all  southern  gardens  that 

deserve  the  name 


such  dainty,  exquisite  coloring  and  the  texture  was  so  fine  that 
they  were  Hke  butterflies  or  fairy  flowers  in  the  garden  as  well 
as  in  the  rooms. 

"Lettuce  fine,"  calls  to  my  mind  the  long  lines  of  delicate 
green  that  formed  such  a  beautiful  background  for  my  Pansies 
and  such  a  delicious  foreground  for  the  luncheon  table. 

"Roses  glorious,"  serves  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  Roses  are 
always  wonderful  and  that  April  is  essentially  the  month  of  Roses 
in  the  South,  as  June  is  in  the  North  and  East.  Then  it  is  that 
they  blossom  out  in  their  full  Spring  fragrance  and  loveliness. 
White  or  yellow,  crimson  or  scarlet,  clearest  and  most  dainty  of 
pinks,  or  deepest  and  richest  of  reds,  climbing  to  the  tops  of  the 
tallest  tree  or  trellises,  or  blooming  a  foot  or  two  above  the  ground, 
wherever  and  whenever  found,  the  Rose  is  the  queen  of  the  garden 
beauties  and  best  of  our  garden  friends. 


MAY  WORK  101 


CHAPTER  X 


MAY  WORK— FOR  FALL  GLORY 

THE  refreshing  showers  of  April  and  the  bahny  skies  of  May 
bring  forth  such  a  riot  of  blossoms  in  gardens,  fields  and 
woods  that  amateur  gardeners  are  apt  to  feel  content  to  rest  on 
their  laurels.  With  Lilacs,  and  Spiraeas,  and  Deutzias  lighting 
up  the  shrubbery  border,  with  bulbs  gloriously  beautiful  in  blos- 
som throughout  the  cooler  sections,  while  in  the  gardens  of  the 
South  the  tall  white  Oleanders  are  masses  of  starry  flowers,  with 
Crimson  Rambler  Roses  vying  with  the  Star  Jasmine  to  see  which 
can  be  most  beautiful,  with  bright-faced  Pansies  by  the  hun- 
dreds in  the  borders,  with  Nasturtiums  rich  and  glowing  in  their 
places,  with  Sweet  Peas  delicately  beaudful  as  Orchids  in  the 
rows,  with  hedges  of  Hollyhocks,  stately  and  tall,  lending  their 
dignity  of  color  and  line  to  the  garden  picture,  it  is  hard  to  realize 
that  eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  a  garden,  and  that  May  must 
be  a  busy  month  if  Summer  flowers  and  vegetables  are  desired. 

The  Violets  must  be  looked  after,  first  of  all.  No  matter  how 
luxuriantly  they  are  growing,  after  the  season  of  bloom  is  over, 
every  plant  must  be  taken  up,  the  leaves  cut  off  and  the  roots 
planted  in  permanent  positions  about  three  inches  apart.  This 
is  the  only  way  to  grow  them  successfully.  If  not  separated 
annually  they  multiply  so  rapidly  that  deterioration  takes  place 
very  quickly.  Many  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  cut  the  leaves 
when  transplanting,  and  the  result  is  unsightly  withered  or  dead 
leaves  on  every  plant,  marring  the  appearance  of  the  whole  garden. 
Planted  with  the  leaves  cut,  not  too  closely,  the  strength  of  the 
plant  goes  to  form  new  roots,  and  when  the  leaves  begin  to  unfold 
they  are  fresh  and  green,  and  stay  so.  It  is  a  great  deal  of  trouble 
to  take  up  the  Violets  every  year,  separate  the  roots,  and  replant, 


102  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

but  what  do  we  have  in  life  that  is  worth  having,  without  working 
to  gain  it  ? 

My  Violets  are  planted  on  the  edge  of  the  flower  borders, 
separating  them  from  the  lawn.  I  also  use  them  to  divide  the 
lawn  from  the  driveway  and  to  edge  my  porch  boxes.  They 
make  a  satisfactory  evergreen  border  edging.  Blooming  from 
October  to  April,  at  first  not  very  freely,  coming  into  full  beauty 
in  December  and  blossoming  by  thousands  from  then  until  late 
March,  I  know  of  no  flowers  that  so  well  repay  a  minimum  amount 
of  thought  and  care.  If  it  is  very  cold  the  leaves  may  become 
yellow,  but  the  brave  little  plants  seem  to  flower  more  freely  for 
the  touch  of  Winter.  To  gardeners  who  can  plant  little  and 
give  that  little  indifferent  care,  I  should  say  plant  a  grass  plot 
and  edge  it  with  Violets. 

Chrysanthemums  also  must  be  looked  after  in  May.  They, 
like  the  Violets,  do  equally  well  in  sun  or  shade,  and  well  repay 
all  care.  They  should  be  carefully  separated,  kept  well  watered 
and  shaded  until  rooted  in  the  new  positions,  and  then  left  alone 
until  August.  By  buying  a  dozen  good  plants  to  start  with,  and 
adding  a  few  each  year,  these  will  so  increase  that  the  garden  will 
be  well  supplied  with  this  bravest  and  best  of  Autumn  flowers. 

A  dozen  White  Bonnaffon,  a  like  number  of  Alice  Byron,  six 
each  of  Major  Bonnaffon,  and  six  of  Yellow  October  Frost,  with 
twelve  Dr.  Enguehard,  made  my  May  contribution  to  last 
Autumn's  blooms.  They  were  a  gorgeous  gift  to  the  family  and 
to  the  passersby.  They  bloomed  from  October  until  late  frost, 
which  did  not  come  until  nearly  December.  In  the  Spring  each 
of  these  plants  was  the  center  of  a  clump  which  was  separated  to 
secure  strong,  stocky  plants  for  Fall  bloom  this  year.  There  were 
not  less  than  four  in  the  smallest  clumps  and  as  many  as  ten  in 
others. 

Do  not  mix  the  colors  of  the  Chrysanthemum  plantings. 
Grouping  the  colors  separately  gives  much  finer  effects.  A  long 
border,  closely  planted,  of  golden  yellow  against  the  gray-green 
of  the  foliage,  masses  of  white  intermingled  with  the  shrubbery, 
glowing  crimsons,  dainty  pinks  in  beds  and  borders,  deep  rich 


MAY  WORK 


103 


YUCCA  FILAMENTOSA  IS  WONDERFUL  IN  MAY 
It  is  the  only  member  of  its  family  free  from  dangerously  pointed  leaves.     Otherwise  it  is 

typical  of  the  genus 


104 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


MAY  WORK  105 

maroons,  and  orange  tones  as  deep  as  flames,  make  of  the  Fall 
gardens  pictures  of  unsurpassed  loveliness. 

A  plantation  of  deep  rose-pink  single  hardy  Chrysanthemums, 
on  each  side  of  the  entrance  steps  of  a  gray  stone  State  House, 
planted  against  a  background  of  dark  evergreen  shrubbery, 
seems,  as  I  recall  it,  as  if  a  part  of  the  sunset  sky  had  fallen  to 
the  lawn,  so  vivid  and  beautiful  was  the  efl^ect.  The  hand  of 
the  Master  Artist  splashes  the  colors  from  His  palette  in  broad 
masses  and  sweeps  of  rhythmic  harmony  of  tone.  We  cannot 
follow  a  better  example,  and  no  flower  gives  better  results  from 
such  plantings  than  the  hardy  Chrysanthemums. 

If  your  garden  scheme  requires  the  planting  of  narrow  borders, 
by  using  Dahlias  with  their  brilliant  colors  in  the  background, 
and  cutting  and  pinching  the  Chrysanthemums  to  form  masses 
of  color  on  a  lower  level,  borders  of  rare  beauty  can  be  secured. 
May  is  the  last  month  in  which  the  Summer-flowering  perennials 
may  be  put  out.  Rudbeckias,  or  Golden  Glow,  if  planted  early 
in  May,  need  only  to  be  thinned  out  annually  to  keep  them  from 
covering  the  earth.  They  are  desirable  because  they  give  a 
wealth  of  gay  blossoms  in  Midsummer,  when  flowers  are  scarce. 
They  make  a  gorgeous  yellow  background  for  the  white  perennial 
Phlox.  Growing  tall  and  having  rather  scraggy  stems,  they 
should  always  be  placed  at  the  back  of  the  sunny  border,  for 
they  will  not  grow  in  the  shade. 

Another  Fall  flower  which  is  excellent  for  backgrounds  is  the 
Cosmos.  It  grows  in  poor  soil,  even  where  there  is  much  sand, 
is  hardy  and  late  to  bloom,  but  must  have  the  sun.  Sow  seed 
where  the  plants  are  to  flower.  I  remember  well  how  beautiful  were 
the  dooryards  of  a  certain  mill  village  last  Fall  with  masses  of 
Cosmos  planted  against  the  wire  poultry  netting  that  fenced  in 
most  of  the  plots.  The  ugly  landscape  was  really  glorified  by 
the  dainty  foliage  and  bright  blossoms  of  these  plants.  I  had 
not  thought  them  worthy  of  a  place  in  my  Fall  garden,  but  am 
including  them  hereafter.  The  new  Klondyke  Cosmos,  with 
dark  green  foliage  and  masses  of  tawny  orange  flowers,  adds  a 
brilliant  color  note  to  the  Fall  garden  and,  if  the  season  is  mild 


106  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

blossoms  until  December.  It  Is  fine  in  the  garden  and  gorgeous 
in  the  living-room  of  the  dwelling. 

Annuals,  such  as  Asters,  Zinnias  and  Salvias,  must  be  placed 
in  their  permanent  positions  this  month.  The  more  carefully 
the  colors  are  grouped  the  more  satisfactory  and  attractive  the 
garden  composition  will  be.  Scarlet  Zinnias  planted  back  of 
the  Violets,  always  with  rich  green  foliage,  against  a  background 
of  white  Phlox,  or  white  Asters  against  scarlet  Salvias,  make 
charming  combinations. 

Salvia,  used  sparingly,  with  groups  of  shrubbery  to  break 
the  color  line,  is  beautiful  and  satisfactory.  With  the  soft  greens 
of  the  lawn  in  front,  the  dark  evergreen  shrubbery  in  the  back- 
ground, with  only  white  flowers  against  its  vivid  masses  of  glowing 
red,  the  picture  is  all  that  could  be  desired.  When  planted  along 
the  lines  of  the  house  or  framing  the  porch,  in  the  porch  boxes, 
massed  against  dark  green  of  the  English  or  Algerian  Ivy  that 
is  so  often  used  to  cover  the  foundation  stones  of  buildings  or 
walls,  the  efl^ect  is  charming — the  trouble  is  that  it  is  used  in  this 
way  by  so  many.  But  Salvia  and  Cannas  are  our  most  abused 
plants.  How  often  we  see  beds,  cut  round  or  square,  or  star- 
shape,  or  even  in  a  Maltese  cross,  filled  with  these  two  plants  in 
the  midst  of  a  beautiful  stretch  of  lawn  ?  No  matter  how  beauti- 
ful the  blossoms  of  this  or  any  other  flowers  are  individually,  it 
is  never  good  taste  to  use  them  in  this  way.  They  attract  atten- 
tion surely,  but  do  they  not  make  a  high  light  that  is  too  strong 
for  the  rest  of  the  garden  picture  ?  Keep  to  the  borders  and  not 
only  will  the  effects  be  more  pleasing,  but  you  can  also  have  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  it  is  more  artistic  and  according  to 
all  the  canons  of  good  taste  in  planting.  The  composition  of 
the  garden  should  be  as  carefully  thought  out  as  the  composition  of 
any  artist's  canvas,  with  true  regard  for  light  and  shadow,  color 
and  line,  background  and  foreground,  and  while  there  must  be 
high  lights  as  well  as  deep  tones,  the  whole  must  be  at  the  final 
judging  a  picture  that  never  jars. 


MAY  WORK 


107 


108 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


DAISIES  ARE  BEAUTIFUL.  WHETHER  WILD  OR  TAME 
They  are  common  in  fields  all  over  the  South,  but  the  cultivated  Shasta  Daisy  is  particularly 
good  in  the  perennial  border 


TAKING  STOCK  OF  THE  GARDEN  109 


CHAPTER  XI 


TAKING  STOCK  OF  THE  GARDEN— UNDER  JUNE'S  SUNNY 

SKIES 

THE  other  day  I  asked  one  of  my  garden-making  friends  what 
she  did  in  her  garden  in  June,  and,  being  somewhat  of  an 
epicure,  after  thinking  hard  for  a  minute  or  two,  her  answer  was: 
"Why,  I  just  eat  figs."  Writing  this  in  the  shade  of  my  own 
Fig  tree,  where  the  shadows  from  the  thick,  green  leaves  fall 
soft  and  cool  and,  remembering  the  delicious  sweetness  and 
delicate  flavor  of  the  figs  that  grow  in  our  southern  gardens,  I 
think  I  should  like  to  follow  her  example.  But  this  is  too  often 
what  we  do:  Sit  with  folded  hands  and  enjoy  the  fragrance  and 
beauty  of  the  Spring  shrubs  and  flowers  and  fruits  and  watch 
them  quietly  fade  away,  and  then  wonder  why  there  are  no  blos- 
soms later  in  the  Summer.  It  is  largely  upon  the  June  work 
that  the  blossoming  glory  of  the  Midsummer  garden  depends. 

June  should  be  the  stock-taking  month.  There  is  no  time 
for  rest  or  hesitation  now.  The  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  get 
through  with  the  clearing  of  the  borders.  Bulbs  of  Narcissus, 
Snowdrops,  Roman  Hyacinths,  Daffodils  and  Jonquils  seem  to 
grow  and  multiply  better  if  left  in  the  borders  where  they  have 
been  placed.  Tulips,  Crocuses,  the  double  Hyacinths,  and  all 
the  finer  bulbs  must  be  left  in  the  ground  until  fully  matured, 
which  is  indicated  by  the  decay  of  the  leaves,  and  as  soon  as  these 
have  turned  yellow  and  fallen  off  the  bulbs  must  be  taken  up 
and  stored  in  a  dry  place  until  it  is  time  to  replant  them  in  the 
Fall. 

After  the  crop  of  flowers  is  over,  the  deciduous  shrubs  should 
be  cut  back,  in  order  that  the  new  wood,  on  which  the  blossoms 


no 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


JUNE  OPENS  THE  TRUSSES  OF  THE  PERENNIAL  PHLOX 
This  flower  is  well  called  the  Queen  of  the  southern  Summer  garden 

of  the  next  year  will  come,  may  put  forth  in  abundance.  The 
symmetry  of  the  specimens  may  also  be  improved  by  the  use  of 
the  clippers  at  this  time — but  be  careful  not  to  cut  too  much. 
The  Cydonias,  Deutzias,  Philadelphius,  Jasminums,  Spiraeas, 
Viburnums,  Syringas,  Punicas,  Forsythias,  Weigelas  and  Hy- 
drangeas and  the  Spring  blossoming  vines,  like  the  Wistarias 
and  Jasmines,  should  all  receive  careful  attention.  None  of  them 
should  be  touched  until  the  blooming  season  is  over.  For  most 
of  these  June  is  the  right  month,  but  some  of  the  later-blooming 
ones  had  better  be  left  until  July.  The  broad-leaved  evergreens 
I  never  prune  at  all,  except  to  take  off  the  dead  branches  after 
a  trying  Winter,  and  possibly  to  remove  some  of  the  lower  shoots 
for  the  sake  of  neatness. 

By  the  end  of  June  the  Sweet  Peas  will  be  over  and  the  trel- 
lises must  be  removed  and  carefully  put  away  until  another  year 
rolls  around.  The  long  lines  left  vacant,  when  the  Pansies  are 
thrown  out,  the  places  where  the  Poppies  glorified  the  border 
and  where   the  Sweet  Peas  blossomed   for  so  many  weeks,   are 


TAKING  STOCK  OF  THE  GARDEN 


111 


filled  with  Verbenas,  Snapdragons,  Mignonette,  Zinnias,  Asters, 
Ageratum,  and  Salvias.  June  is  very  late  to  do  this  transplant- 
ing, but  if  It  is  done  in  the  late  afternoon  after  a  rain  and  the 
plants  are  trimmed  before  planting  and  shaded  during  the  noon 
hours  for  a  day  or  two,  the  chances  are  that  most  of  them  will 
thrive.  This  is  the  time  when  the  thinning-out  process  serves 
the  gardener  in  good  stead.  There  are  sure  to  be  parts  of  the 
borders  where  the  plants  are  as  thick  as  peas  and  other  places 
where  the  seed  has  forgotten  to  germinate.  All  these  spots 
should  be  evened  out.     Now  Is  the  accepted  time. 

Because  the  garden  is  a  blaze  of  glory  with  Helianthus,  Sweet 
Williams,  Zinnias,  Hollyhocks,  Petunias,  Nasturtiums,  and  all 
the  other  blossoms  in  full  beauty,  is  all  the  more  reason  why  you 
should  plan  to  keep  It  so,  and  not  only  planning,  but  everlastingly 
keeping  at  it.  Is  necessary  to  accomplish  this.     If  the  bare  spots 


331 


'im,-^' 


A  MOST  EFFECTIVE  SUMMER-FLOWERING  HEDGE 
Is  Hydrangea  paniculata  grandiflora.     Its  snowy  blossoms  last  for  many  weeks 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


TAKING  STOCK  OF  THE  GARDEN  113 

are  filled  in,  the  crowded  places  thinned  out,  the  colors  changed 
or  arranged  so  that  they  do  not  clash,  a  garden  of  Midsummer 
loveliness  will  be  the  reward. 

Except  in  the  old  southern  gardens  where  the  Oleanders 
(Neriums),  the  Pomegranate  blossoms  (Punicas),  and  the  Sum- 
mer Lilies  make  Summer  gay,  the  usual  rule  is  that  after  the  June 
blossoms  are  over,  there  is  no  more  bloom  until  Fall,  except  the 
masses  of  the  Hydrangeas,  the  Cannas,  or  sporadic  perennials. 
This  is  all  wrong,  and  June  stock  taking  will  remedy  this  fault. 
The  wonderful  beauty  of  the  Spring  blossoms  should  not  cause 
us  to  forget  that  judicious  planning  and  planting  will  make  our 
southern  gardens  beautiful  for  twelve  months  every  year. 

The  numerous  annuals,  if  kept  well  cut,  will  give  bloom  until 
frost.  If  the  perennial  Phlox  is  planted  in  mass  and  in  abundance 
the  garden  will  be  fragrant  and  beautiful  through  all  the  trying 
heat  of  the  Summer  days.  If  the  Asters,  Zinnias,  Salvias  and 
Coleus  are  planted  in  proper  proportion,  the  borders  will  be  rich 
and  colorful  from  June  until  Autumn  is  over.  Now,  now  is  the 
time  to  fill  up  the  barren  spots.     I  cannot  reiterate  this  too  often. 

A  June  inheritance  of  my  garden,  that  has  given  pleasure  and 
beauty  for  a  half  century,  is  Hydrangea  grandiflora^  which,  with 
its  masses  of  blue  and  pink  loveliness,  has  framed  the  lines  of  our 
front  porch  for  all  these  years.  For  immediate  effect,  for  terrace 
and  porch  decorations  or  for  masses  anywhere,  this  and  the 
Neriums  may  be  purchased  in  tubs  and  used  during  the  Summer 
and  placed  in  permanent  positions  in  the  Fall.  H.  g.  monstrosa^ 
H.  g.  Otaksa^  and  other  pink  varieties  of  Hydrangea  grandiflora 
are  more  attractive  to  me  than  the  white  kinds.  The  use  of 
small  lumps  of  alum  around  the  roots  of  the  pink  varieties  will 
cause  them  to  show  heads  of  clear,  beautiful  blue  blossoms.  Salts 
of  iron  changes  the  blue  to  pink.  A  little  pruning,  after  the 
Winter  is  over,  to  get  rid  of  the  dead  branches,  much  fertilizer  in 
the  Spring  and  Fall,  and  sunshine  and  rain  will  do  the  rest.  They 
prefer  a  well-drained,  partially  shaded  situation  and  do  well  in  a 
northern  exposure. 

The  glory  of  my  June  garden  is  a  stately  white  Oleander  or 
Nerium,  which  has  been  a  joy  for  many  months  each  year,  for 


114  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

at  least  one  hundred  years.  It  was  planted  by  my  great-grand- 
mother and  its  fragrant  clusters  of  starry  white  blossoms  are  as 
invariably  a  part  of  our  garden  picture  as  the  Summer  itself. 
Annually  I  thank  the  dear  old  lady,  whom  I  never  saw,  for  this, 
my  heritage. 

For  many  years  it  was  absolutely  neglected,  but  bravely  and 
proudly  it  held  up  its  head,  and  now  repays  the  extra  feeding  of 
manure  in  the  Fall  and  fertilizer  in  the  Spring,  by  a  prodigal 
munificence  of  bloom.  It  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated.  At 
least  fifteen  feet  tall  and  with  a  spread  of  eighteen  feet  in  its 
branches,  with  every  stem  topped  by  one  or  a  dozen  clusters  of 
white  blossoms,  with  the  sharp  lanceolate  leaves  of  every  shade 
of  green,  with  the  black  branches  strongly  outlined  against  the 
soft  greens  of  the  lawn  in  the  foreground,  it  is  a  June  poem.  Some- 
times it  is  a  January  poem,  with  the  snow  wreaths  from  the  skies 
enfolding  its  evergreen  loveliness. 

All  of  the  plants  of  this  species  grow  in  luxuriance  and  are 
perfectly  hardy  in  this  latitude.  From  the  coast  of  South  Car- 
olina to  the  borders  of  the  Gulf  in  Texas  they  are  to  be  found  in 
every  garden  of  the  olden  days,  and  the  greater  the  age,  the  greater 
the  beauty  with  which  they  bless  the  world.  No  southern  garden 
of  this  later  day  should  be  without  them.  They  grow  slowly  at 
first,  but  are  well  worth  while  at  any  age.  In  both  light  and  dark 
pinks,  in  single  and  double,  they  are  very  desirable  additions  to 
our  garden  and  the  northern  greenhouse  plants.  I  find  the  single 
white  hardier  than  the  pink  varieties,  and  more  satisfactory  both 
in  point  of  growth  and  abundance  of  flower.  Beginning  to  bloom 
in  May,  in  full  glory  in  June  and  July,  they  lift  their  snowy  masses 
skyward,  dimly  beautiful  in  the  starlight,  radiant  in  the  moon- 
light, and  glorious  in  the  sunlight,  until  the  chill  of  October  brings 
the  message  that  Autumn  has  come  and  Winter  is  not  far  away. 


JULY  PLANNING 


115 


CHAPTER  XII 


JULY  PLANNING— FOR  PERMANENT  EFFECTS 

JULY  is  the  best  month  in  the  year  for  the  studying  of  garden 
effects.  It  is  the  time  of  all  times  to  note  what  has  been 
done;  to  realize  what  can  be  done  and  to  plan  for  what  shall  be 
done.  If  the  garden  is  bare  of  shrubs  that  bloom  in  Midsummer 
make  notes  now  of  those  that  can  be  put  in  after  frost,  that  will 
add  their  July  quota  to  the  glory  of  the  garden  picture  in  after 
years. 

In  the  fierce  heat  of  Midsummer  days  how  refreshing  it  is  to 
note  the  cool  depths  of  shade  under  the  Laurels,  to  glimpse  the 
beautiful  clusters  of  white  and  pink  blossoms  of  Neriums  and 


GOOD  FOUNDATION  PLANTINGS -WHILE  THEY  LAST 
These  annual  Vincas  and  Cannas  look  good  now,  but  they  leave  the  ground  bare  from  Fall 

until  late  Spring 


116 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


JULY  PLANNING  117 

Lagerstroemias  that  grow  in  so  many  southern  gardens  and 
deserve  to  be  grown  in  all.  Another  evergreen  shrub  that  con- 
tributes fragrant  white  blossoms  to  the  calendar  for  July  and 
August  and  on  into  September  is  the  Gardenia — Gardenia  jas- 
minoides  florida  and  G.  jasminoides  Foriunei — the  latter  with  fewer 
blossoms  of  finer  size  and  more  double  than  the  former  but  both 
very  satisfactory.  The  Gardenias  and  Neriums  with  Abelia 
grandiflora^  that  charming  shrub  of  lower  growth  and  smaller 
flowers  than  the  other  two,  but  equally  desirable  for  all  other 
reasons,  make  a  trilogy  of  sweetness  and  evergreen  loveliness 
that  no  garden  should  be  without. 

Next  in  order  of  consideration  will  be  the  Lagerstroemias, 
L.  indica  alba^  L.  i.  rosea^  and  L.  i.  rubra^  which  are  nearly  ever- 
green and  wonderfully  beautiful.  Whether  small  shrubs  or 
almost  trees  they  are  always  effective.  A  hedge  of  the  white  is 
particularly  fine,  the  panicles  being  as  useful  for  cutting  as  the 
shrubs  are  for  landscape  effects.  The  Althaea  Jrutex^  if  the  new 
and  clear-colored  varieties  are  chosen,  gives  charming  results  as 
a  flowering  hedge  or  when  planted  in  mass  in  the  shrubbery  border 
or  where  a  Summer  screen  is  needed.  The  old  purplish-pink 
kinds  are  never  good.  Not  often  enough  do  we  see  the  broad 
Oak-leaved  Hydrangea  quercijolia^  with  its  immense  panicles  of 
creamy  white  blossoms.  They  are  very  hardy  and  easy  to  grow, 
asking  only  a  partially  shaded  and  damp  situation;  also  they 
lighten  up  the  dark  corners  where  nothing  else  will  thrive. 

For  a  Summer  blooming  hedge  in  a  shaded  situation  Hydrangea 
paniculata  grandiflora  can  be  used  with  fine  results.  Close  Winter 
pruning  is  necessary  for  the  finest  flowers. 

The  golden  St.  John's  Wort,  Hypericum  Moserianum^  is  prac- 
tically an  evergreen  shrub  of  low  growth  and  seems  to  thriv^e 
equally  well  in  sun  and  shade.  With  its  bright  yellow  flowers 
and  delicate  green  leaves  it  can  be  counted  on  for  sunshiny  effects 
from  season  to  season. 

While  you  are  planning  do  not  fail  to  enter  in  your  notebook 
those  two  delightfully  fragrant  perennials  that  are  truly  ever- 
green shrubs  in  this  section,  Rosmarinus   officinalis  and  Lavandula 


118  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

vera.  They  should  be  found  in  all  our  gardens  as  they  were  in 
those  of  our  grandmothers. 

The  joy  of  my  heart  in  the  July  days  is  a  blue  and  white  and 
gold  border  that  stretches  for  sixty  feet  along  the  driveway  and 
frames  the  lines  of  our  house  in  masses  of  glorious  color.  The 
background  of  Rudbeckia  (Golden  Glow)  that  rises  sheer  five  feet 
is  not  yet  in  bloom,  but  the  nodding  heads  and  saucy  faces  of  the 
dwarf  Helianthus  in  all  the  shades  of  yellow  furnish  the  depth  of 
tone  desired.  Against  these  colonies  of  rich  green  and  deeper 
yellows,  here  and  there,  are  masses  of  white  Petunias,  fragrant 
and  beautiful. 

African  Marigolds  make  brilliant  spots  of  color  amidst  the 
heavy  clusters  of  snow-white  perennial  Phlox.  Dwarf  Zinnias, 
in  yellow  and  white,  and  giant  Zinnias,  in  yellow,  orange  and 
canary,  finish  out  the  warm  side  of  the  scale.  Masses  of  feathery 
white  Ageratum,  a  long  border  of  dainty  white  Alyssum,  nodding 
spikes  of  a  colony  of  blue  Larkspurs,  blue  Cornflowers,  azure  as 
the  sky,  and  perennial  Salvia,  deep  as  the  blue  of  the  deepest 
seas,  and  in  front  of  the  whole  long  row  an  edging  of  rich  dark 
green  Violet  leaves,  is  the  planting. 

When  August  comes,  the  Rudbeckia  will  add  its  glory  and 
give  sixty  feet  of  golden  glow.  September  brings  the  blue  and 
white  Asters  in  all  their  dainty  perfection,  and  October  adds  the 
gracious  Chrysanthemums  in  yellow  and  white  alone.  For  four 
months,  at  least,  this  planting  will  be  worth  while,  needing  only 
to  have  the  dead  branches  of  the  Helianthus  removed  and  the 
flowers  cut  promptly  to  insure  a  wealth  of  bloom  continuously. 

For  the  Winter  bloom  there  are  the  Russian  Violets  from 
December  to  May.  The  Narcissi  and  Roman  Hyacinths  come 
in  January  and  February,  while  Snowdrops,  Daff"odils  and  Jonquils 
carry  the  color  scale  over  into  March.  Then  come  the  blue  and 
white  Hyacinths,  the  Irises,  in  white,  and  yellow,  and  kingly  blues, 
with  snowy  Candytuft,  and  Alyssum  saxatile  for  the  touch  of 
gold  in  the  Springtime  bloom. 

If  this  border  in  my  garden  were  situated  so  that  it  would 
receive  the  morning  sun  I  would  add  the  white,  and  yellow,  and 
blue  of  the  Pansies,  and  mingle  with  them  those  loveliest  of  new 


JULY  PLANNING 


119 


^^^ 

^ 

^^Hjl^^^^Kii;^!^''- 

'        0,^^^^ 

,3 

THE  WILD  CACTUS  (OPUNTIA)  OF  MEADOWS  AND  WOODLOTS 
In  the  garden,  too,  its  yellow  blooms  are  attractive  in  July.    It  strikes  a  tropical  note  in 

any  scene 


120 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


JULY  PLANNING 


121 


rf 

i 

1 

n#-  - :  ■      m.  .*.■»*  TJiFi  HWl 

NERIUMS  SHOULD  BE  IN  BLOOM  IN  JULY 

Cold  Winters  frequently  injure  them,  but  against  a  well-kept  hedge  as  shown  here,  they  are 

protected  and  attractive.     Closer  planting  would  be  better 


garden  children,  the  flowers  of  Fio/a  cornnta.  These  blossoms 
have  the  colors  of  the  Pansy  and  the  fragrance  of  the  Violet  and 
bloom  from  month  to  month.  Then  each  returning  season  would 
have  its  quota  of  blossom  and  my  continental  border  would 
delight  with  its  sweetness  and  bless  with  its  brightness  for  twelve 
months  every  year. 

Surely  the  old  gardens  of  Colonial  days  must  have  had  such 
borders  in  them,  for  the  regimental  colors  are  to  be  seen  in  full 
splendor.  White  of  the  snowflakes,  the  sea  foam,  the  moonlight; 
blue  of  the  starshine,  the  sea  depths  and  the  Summer  skies;  gold 
of  the  sunlight,  the  fruit-laden  Orange  groves,  the  ripening  Wheat 
fields,  and  precious  metal  of  the  mines — these  are  the  pictures 
this  part  of  my  garden  calls  to  mind. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  may  care  to  make  such  a  border 
in  their  own  gardens,  I  append  a  summary  of  the  plantings  for 
the  Blue,  White  and  Gold  Border: 

White  Flowers,      Spanish   Iris,  British  Queen,  La  Tendresse; 


122  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Roman  Hyacinths;  white  l^utch  Hyacinths;  Narcissus,  -Paper- 
white  grandiflor  a  ^  White  Pearl;  hardy  Phlox,  Mrs.  Jenkins,  Jeanne 
d'Arc;  White  Bonnaffon  Chrysanthemum;  Arabis  alpina\  early 
and  late-branching  Asters;  White  Pearl  Petunias;  Ageratum; 
Sweet  Alyssum;  Pansy,  White  Queen;  Viola  cornuta^  White 
Perfection;    giant  white  Antirrhinums;    Iberis  sempervirens. 

Yellow  Flowers.  Spanish  Iris,  Belle  Chinoise,  Chrysolora; 
Daffodils,  Emperor,  Empress,  Trumpet  Major,  Van  Sion;  Jonquils, 
Campernelle;  Alyssum  saxatile;  Yellow  October  Frost  Chrysan- 
themums; Rudbeckias;  dwarf  Helianthus,  all  shades  of  yellow; 
giant  Zinnias,  yellow,  orange,  canary;  dwarf  large-flowering 
Zinnias,  yellow;  African  Marigolds;  Viola  cornuta^  V.  lutea 
splendens\  Pansy,  Golden  Queen;  giant  yellow  Antirrhinums; 
Aquilegia  chrysantha. 

Blue  Flowers.  Spanish  Iris,  King  of  the  Blues,  Louise;  early 
blue  Roman  Hyacinths;  single  blue  Dutch  Hyacinths;  Russian 
Violets;  Ageratum;  Centaureas,  light  and  dark  blues;  Asters; 
annual  Larkspurs;  Delphininums;  Veronica;  Aquilegia  cosrulea; 
Pansies,  Adonis,  Lord  Beaconsfield,  Prince  Henry,  Emperor 
William;    Viola  cornuta^  Blue  Perfection;    Salvia  patens. 


FIGHTING  THE  MIDSUMMER  PESTS  123 


CHAPTER  XIII 


FIGHTING  THE  MIDSUMMER  PESTS 

WHEN  one  has  achieved  the  glory  of  the  Midsummer  Phlox; 
when  Crape  Myrtles,  mist-crowned  in  white,  vie  in  loveli- 
ness with  the  rose-colored,  like  the  sky  at  dawn,  or  the  deeper 
sunset  tinted;  when  starry  Oleanders  lift  their  snowy  beauty 
by  the  side  of  Althseas  that  are  blooming  everywhere;  when 
Abelias,  dainty  as  Arbutus  blooms  and  Buddleias  like  the  Lilacs 
of  Springtime,  are  showing  on  every  side,  it  would  seem  that  the 
time  had  come  when  all  that  one  needs  to  do  is  just  to  enjoy  the 
garden. 

There  are  Banana  trees  and  Caladiums  lending  their  tropical 
luxuriance  to  the  scene;  there  are  glorious  Gladioli;  there  are 
masses  of  Cannas,  deep  crimsons,  clear  yellows,  dainty  primrose 
and  soft  pink;  there  are  Cacti  here  and  Daisies  there;  there  are 
annuals  in  full  bloom  on  all  sides,  and  we  prepare  to  sit  and  rest 
in  the  midst  of  all  the  sweetness  and  beauty,  when  the  heat  of 
the  midday  sun  has  passed  and  the  long  shadows  begin  to  fall 
on  the  lawn.  Earlier  in  the  day  it  is  comfortable  only  in  the  shelter 
of  the  broad,  deep-shaded  porches  and  in  the  sun-excluded  rooms, 
from  which  all  unnecessary  articles  have  been  removed. 

We  think,  "Summer  in  the  South  is  delightful,  even  though 
it  is  warm."  This  is  our  Midsummer  night's  dream.  Lo,  when 
morning  comes  we  discover  a  blight  on  the  Maples,  spots  show 
on  the  Poplar's  leaves,  caterpillars  crawl  on  the  Cannas,  black 
rot  forms  on  the  Phlox,  white  flies  appear  in  clouds  on  the  Privets 
and  broad-leaved  evergreens  and  the  joy  in  our  gardens  is  turned 
in  an  instant  into  the  fiercest  kind  of  war.  Our  state  of  pre- 
paredness being  far  from  equal  to  the  occasion  we  are  almost 


124 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


Bamboo  fittingly  used  in  a  Georgia  garden 


defeated  before  we  begin  the  fight.     War  to  the  death,  however, 
no  quarter  asked  nor  given,  it  must  be. 

After  a  beautiful  vacation  last  Summer,  just  when  it  seemed 
as  if  it  were  going  to  be  possible  to  sit  down  quietly  and  get  some 
writing  and  drawing  done,  the  call  to  arms  came  and  for  twelve 
consecutive  weeks,  between  June  and  October,  it  was  a  daily 
fight  against  every  insect  and  fungus  pest  known  to  the  flora  of 
the  South — or  so  it  seemed  to  be. 

It  was  necessary  to  arise  at  dawn,  get  the  mixture  ready  and 
spray,  and  spray,  and  spray  again.  In  a  small  garden  it  is  not 
hard  to  keep  ahead  of  the  enemy,  but  usually  there  is  a  lack  of 
appliances  which  makes  the  work  doubly  hard  and,  truth  to  tell, 
it  is  not  easy  when  done  with  the  best  of  help,  with  the  most 
carefully  prepared  mixtures,  and  the  best  spray  pumps.  Hard 
or  easy,  it  must  be  done. 

For  several  years  each  recurring  Spring  in  the  South  brought 
a  very  excessive  and  prolonged  drought.  This  was  followed  by 
a  season  of  tropical  rains,  making  the  climatic  conditions  almost 
those  of  two  distinct,  main  seasons:  a  rainy  one  and  a  dry  one. 
The  vegetation,  stunted  by  the  long,  dry  spell,  began  to  grow 


FIGHTING  THE  MIDSUMMER  PESTS  125 

rampantly  and  soon  exceeded  its  strength  which  had  been  ex- 
hausted by  the  long  drought.  The  inevitable  mildew,  black  rot, 
rust,  and  other  fungous  growths  appeared.  For  these  Bordeaux 
mixture,  used  in  the  proportion  of  one  gallon  to  sixty  gallons  of 
water,  is  the  standard  remedy.  This  spraying  must  be  done 
when  the  sun  is  off  the  plants. 

In  all  such  garden  warfare,  choose  either  the  early  morning 
hours  before  the  sun  is  up,  or  the  period  after  sunset  and  into  the 
long  twilight,  which  is  not  so  comfortable  and  convenient  a  time 
as  early  morning  but  is  much  better  for  the  plants.  When  the 
fungus  appears  it  is  too  late  to  save  the  tree  or  shrub  on  which 
it  shows,  but  if  immediate  steps  are  taken  and  the  spray  is  used 
on  all  the  other  members  of  the  family  it  is  possible  to  save  nine- 
tenths  of  them.  When  the  Poplars  showed  rust  last  Summer 
spraying  was  begun  at  once,  repeated  in  four  weeks  and  a  third 
time  four  weeks  later.  Only  two  trees  were  lost  out  of  a  very 
large  number  treated. 

When  the  dry  spells  of  the  late  Spring  are  succeeded  by  days 
of  Summer  heat  and  the  nights  are  still  cool,  the  Rambler  Roses 
and  Wichuraiana  hybrids  all  show  mildew.  This  Spring  they 
have  been  very  badly  infected.  Flowers  of  sulphur  is  the  stand- 
ard remedy  used  with  a  dry  duster  early  in  the  morning  when  the 
dew  is  on  the  vines.  Often,  however,  this  does  not  have  the 
desired  effect  and  we  must  resort  to  the  second  strength  Bordeaux 
mixture.  Spray  with  it  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  blooming 
season  is  over.  Wait  a  few  weeks  and  spray  a  second  time;  if 
necessary,  do  it  again  after  four  more  weeks  have  passed.  Should 
these  remedies  fail  there  is  nothing  to  do  but  to  cut  off  the  in- 
fected canes  and  burn  them.  This  is  a  good  thing  to  do  in  the 
beginning  if  the  vines  are  very  badly  infected.  If  not,  take  off 
only  the  weak  stock.  This  pruning  will  enable  the  plants  to  gain 
their  Summer's  growth  and  make  the  wood  on  which  the  next 
year's  blooms  will  come.  If  the  cutting  is  very  severe  the  blos- 
soms will  not  be  so  abundant.  For  this  reason  the  other  remedies 
may  be  used  first. 

With  all  other  types  of  Roses  there  are  little  disease  and  few 
insects   that  need   to  be  fought.     An  occasional   bath  of  soapy 


126  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

water,  a  strong  spraying  from  the  hose,  often  will  keep  the  aphids 
controlled,  and  potassium  sulphide  and  arsenate  of  lead  will  do 
the  rest  applied  as  needed  in  season. 

The  remedies  used  in  other  sections  will  give  relief  in  most 
cases  of  insects  and  fungous  pests,  but  the  most  dreaded  and  the 
most  insidious  of  our  Summer  insect  enemies  is  that  one,  par- 
ticularly ubiquitous  in  the  regions  of  the  citrus  plants,  the  white 
fly.  Lime-sulphur  solution  applied  in  the  Winter  months  is  an 
excellent  preventive  of  disease,  but  when  torrential  rains  of  July 
and  August  are  daily  occurrences,  followed  by  blistering  heat 
in  the  afternoon  and  cool  winds  at  night,  these  adjuncts  to  our 
gardens  appear  like  the  far-famed  locust  plagues  of  Palestine. 
If  the  season  is  equable  and  not  out  of  the  ordinary  they  are 
never  seen. 

Without  warning  they  appear  in  clouds  on  the  Amoor  River 
Privet  hedges  and  before  one  knows  it  they  are  all  over  the  world. 
Gnats,  gnats,  gnats!  All  the  beautiful  broad-leaved  evergreens 
will  be  covered  with  white  spots  and  after  a  day  or  two  the  leaves 
will  fall  to  the  ground.  Absolutely  all  the  vitality  of  the  leaf 
has  gone  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  newly  hatched  larvae  pro- 
duced by  the  whitish  spots  which  prove  to  be  eggs.  The  stems 
and  bark  of  the  shrubs  will  also  be  infected  and  will  appear  as 
if  covered  with  a  scale,  much  in  appearance  like  the  San 
Jose  scale.  They  are  an  abomination  and  a  desolation.  How 
we  hate  them!  How  we  dread  them!  How  we  hope  they  will 
not  show  themselves  this  Summer! 

There  are  several  remedies:  Lime-sulphur  used  in  the  pro- 
portion of  one  part  to  25  gallons  of  water,  which  is  very  strong 
and  liable  to  injure  the  plants — but,  if  you  do  not  use  it  they  are 
gone  anyway,  so  what  is  the  difference  ?  For  small  places  whale 
oil  soap,  \y2  ounces  to  a  gallon  of  water,  is  very  good.  Several 
specific  remedies  selling  for  75  cents  a  gallon  and  used  Xyi  gallons 
to  100  gallons  of  water  are  by  far  the  cheapest  and  most  reliable 
destroyers.  These  sprays  will  destroy  them  root  and  branch — 
that  is,  wings  and  feet — and  nothing  else  will. 

Think  what  work  it  entails  to  go  over  whole  Orange  groves, 
to  spray  thousands  of  feet  of  hedges,  to  spray  hundreds  of  yards 


FIGHTING  THE  MIDSUMMER  PESTS 


127 


MIDSUMMER  IN  THE  AUTHOR'S  GARDEN 


128  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

of  shrubbery  borders,  and  remember  that  all  the  spraying  must 
be  done  when  the  sun  is  not  shining  on  the  plants.  Do  you 
wonder  that  the  workmen — and  workwomen — dread  the  appear- 
ance of  the  iniquitous  white  fly  ?  There  must  be  a  first  applica- 
tion, then  a  waiting  time  of  three  weeks  and  then  a  second  spray, 
and  so  on  until  three  or  four  applications  have  been  made  with 
the  waiting  spaces  between. 

Are  not  these  enough  ?  They  are  not  all,  never  fear — 
there  are  still  others.  After  the  Roses,  and  Poplars,  and  Privets, 
and  evergreens  have  been  treated,  what  should  we  discover  but 
a  new  kind  of  scale  altogether.  This  time  it  was  the  oyster  shell 
scale  on  Tamarix  plumosa.  The  same  insecticide  as  that  for 
white  flies  might  have  done  the  work,  but  kerosene  emulsion  was 
used  and  only  two  applications  were  necessary  to  clean  the  one 
infected  shrub  and  to  keep  the  pest  off  the  other  plants. 

Surely  this  was  enough  for  one  Summer,  not  to  mention  the 
tribe  of  aphids  which  are  ubiquitous.  No,  the  end  was  not  yet. 
In  a  single  day  every  leaf  was  stripped  from  three  Poplars,  two 
Privets  and  one  Spiraea.  While  away  fighting  the  enemy  in  the 
gardens  of  my  friends  the  hungry  caterpillar  was  at  his  deadly 
work.  His  name  was  legion.  An  early  start,  a  carefully  pre- 
pared breakfast  food  of  arsenate  of  lead  spread  in  front  of  his 
wandering  feet  was  sufficient  unto  his  death  and  that  of  all  his 
tribe. 

When  the  leaf-curl  appeared  it  became  a  question  of  lime- 
sulphur  again  and  although  the  foliage  was  spotted  and  the  smell 
was  anything  but  attractive  this  dosage  was  apphed  in  second 
strength. 

This  sanguinary  history  of  one  Summer's  fight  was  succeeded 
by  a  very  much  tired-out  feeling  at  the  season's  end.  Do  you 
wonder  ?  You  will  also  see  the  wisdom  of  cutting  out  a  spraying 
table  and  pasting  it  in  your  Gardener's  Calendar.  The  instruc- 
tions given  in  any  standard  table  include  mixtures  and  quantities 
of  sprays  for  all  kinds  of  insects,  fungi  and  pests.  This  table 
should  have  a  prominent  place  in  the  garden  preparations,  not 
only  for  the  Summer,  but  for  all  the  year.  To  adapt  this  table 
to  southern  conditions,  it  is  necessary  only  to  antedate  the  work 


FIGHTING  THE  MIDSUMMER  PESTS 


129 


130  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

by  six  or  eight  weeks.  Usually  all  the  garden  instructions  are 
based  on  the  latitude  of  New  York,  which  is  the  Greenwich 
meridian  of  garden  calendars. 

The  only  insect  not  thus  given  in  the  proper  valuation  for  his 
southern  connections  is  the  exclusive  white  fly.  This  chapter 
covers  his  work  and  extinction. 

While  studying  about  these  variously  inclined  enemies  it 
occurred  to  me  that  our  great-grandmothers  and  grandmothers 
must  have  made  their  gardens  without  having  to  take  all  the 
precaution  we  do  to  insure  bloom  and  leaf  and  fruit.  Immedi- 
ately search  was  made  in  the  old  books  in  the  library. 

In  Prince's  Manual  of  Roses,  issued  in  1846,  it  says:  **Even 
the  Rose  has  its  enemies  and  these  enemies,  although  of  the  most 
contemptible  description,  are  extremely  pernicious  in  their  habits, 
until  their  efforts  have  been  thwarted."  Certainly  we  will  all 
agree  with  him  on  this.  He  says  that  the  green  fly  may  be 
destroyed  by  syringing  the  plants  with  tobacco  water,  that  the 
slug  is  much  complained  of  in  New  England,  and  that  the  rose 
bug  or  beetle  must  be  picked  off  by  hand  and  destroyed.  For 
mildew  syringing  the  plants  with  sulphur  water  is  suggested. 

In  William  Cobbett's  American  Gardener,  published  in  1819, 
we  are  told:  "Diseases  of  trees  are  various  of  their  kinds  but  nine 
times  out  of  ten  they  proceed  from  the  root.  Insects  are  much 
more  frequently  an  effect  than  a  cause.  The  best  and  perhaps 
the  only  remedy  against  the  species  of  disease  of  which  they  are 
the  symptoms,  consists  of  good  plants,  good  planting,  good  till- 
age." This  sounds  as  familiar  as  if  it  were  printed  in  a  current 
magazine  instead  of  in  a  book  100  years  old. 

The  striking  point  of  interest  in  the  "Ladies'  Companion  to 
the  Flower  Garden,"  written  by  Mrs.  Loudon  and  edited  by 
A.  J.  Downing,  is  in  the  fact  that  there  is  no  reference  to  insects 
or  insecticides.  Would  it  not  be  fine  if  "lady's  gardens"  in  these 
brave  days  were  as  free  from  such  infection  as  one  wouki  like  to 
believe  they  were  seventy-five  years  ago  ? 

The  one  volume  written  for  the  South  is  unique  because  the 
others  all  state  distinctly  that  the  tables  and  planting  lists  are 
given  for  the  latitude  of  New  York — even  as  now.     In  this  com- 


FIGHTING  THE  MIDSUMMER  FESTS  131 

pendium  of  garden  suggestions  for  the  southern  planter  issued 
in  1842,  the  author,  Francis  S.  Holmes,  says  that  he  realizes 
that  all  the  books  and  instructions  are  written  for  other  sections 
where  climatic  differences  are  so  great  as  to  make  the  major  por- 
tion of  their  directions  of  no  value.  That  Mr.  Holmes  convinced 
the  Horticultural  Society  of  Charleston  of  the  truth  of  his  prem- 
ises is  evidenced  by  their  letter  of  commendation  in  the  preface. 
His  suggestions  as  to  the  use  of  the  berries  of  Melia  Azedarach^ 
Pride  of  India  or  China  Berry  Trees,  as  they  are  so  commonly 
called,  are  corporate  in  the  garden  lore  of  the  South. 

The  remedy  for  green  cabbage  worm,  plant  lice,  etc.,  is  as 
follows:  Take  a  half  bushel  of  Pride  of  India  berries,  well  ripened, 
put  them  in  a  barrel  and  add  15  gallons  of  water.  After  the 
mixture  has  stood  for  two  or  three  days  sprinkle  the  plants  with 
it  and  in  most  cases  it  will  prevent  the  depredations  of  these 
insects. 

The  negroes  use  a  "bed  of  berries"  around  their  fruit  trees 
and  Cabbages  and  in  their  vegetable  gardens  to  prevent  worms 
in  fruit  and  cutworms  and  black  grub.  Some  of  our  best  gar- 
deners also  follow  them  in  the  use  of  this  simple  insecticide  which 
has  the  advantage  of  being  easy  to  procure,  easier  to  apply  and 
costing  nothing  except  the  labor  of  gathering. 

All  these  garden  stories  of  the  old  days  would  seem  to  imply 
that  there  were  the  same  old  gardens,  the  same  old  pests,  the 
same  fresh  beauties,  the  same  rich  joys.  The  work  of  spraying 
is  so  largely  overbalanced  by  the  garden  joy  that  it  does  not 
enter  into  our  calculations  at  all.  The  destruction  of  insects 
and  fungi,  the  taking  of  preventive  measures  against  the  ravages 
of  scale  and  other  blights,  is  just  a  part  of  the  regular  routine 
work  and  that  some  of  these  operations  have  to  be  carried  on 
during  Midsummer  heat  is  our  misfortune,  not  our  fault.  Go 
at  it  with  a  will,  stick  to  it  with  determination,  and  before  you 
know  it  the  work  will  be  done,  and  you  will  feel  as  proud  of  your 
achievement  as  if  vou  had  won  a  victorvon  a  more  ambitious  field. 


132 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


Artemisia  lactifolia  effectively  used  in  the  garden  of  which  another  view  is  shown 
on  page  1 16 


A  "close-up"  of  the  striking,  fluffy  foliage  that  marks  the  curve  in  the  pathway 
ONE  OF  THE  SHOWIEST  PERENNIALS  FOR  MASSING 


DEPENDABLE  PERENNIALS  133 


CHAPTER  XIV 


DEPENDABLE  PERENNIALS— WHEN  TO  PLANT  THEM 

FROM  the  long  list  of  perennials  given  in  the  catalogues  of 
the  nurserymen  and  by  the  writers  of  garden  books  for 
other  sections,  it  seems  hard  that  we  who  make  gardens  in  the 
South  should  have  our  list  of  desirable  and  dependable  perennials 
reduced  to  a  mere  baker's  dozen,  but  this  is  a  true  statement  of 
the  case — not  only  of  my  case,  but  of  that  of  many  of  my  garden- 
loving  friends  who  have  been  beguiled  by  the  pictures  and  stories 
in  the  above-mentioned  books  and  also  by  their  memories  of  the 
beautiful  gardens  of  the  East. 

Many  trials,  in  every  possible  situation  and  under  every 
known  condition,  much  wasted  energy  and  money,  have  con- 
vinced me  that  in  order  to  grow  perennials  successfully  in  the 
South  it  is  necessary  to  have  southern-raised  plants. 

FALL    PLANTINGS 

It  is  rather  an  easy  matter  to  grow  perennials  from  the  seed. 
One  September  I  planted  the  seed  of  Aquilegia  (Columbine), 
Gaillardia,  Hollyhocks,  Phlox  paniculata^  Dianthus  barbatus 
(Sweet  William),  Dianthus  plumarius  (the  Scotch  hardy  Pink), 
and  Oriental  and  Iceland  Poppies,  in  rows  in  the  borders  on  the 
west  side  of  my  garden.  The  situation  is  sheltered  but  sunny. 
The  seed  germinated  promptly  and  the  plants  were  left  in  these 
positions  and  unprotected  until  large  enough  to  be  transplanted, 
which  in  most  cases  was  not  until  February  and  March.  In 
colder  sections  it  is  necessary  to  protect  these  seedlings.  The 
Poppies  needed  only  to  be  thinned  out,  the  seed  having  been 
sown  in  the  parts  of  the  borders  where  they  were  to  bloom. 


134  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

The  primary  cost  of  the  seed  was  about  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents,  and,  from  the  planting,  the  garden  was  richer  by  at  least 
one  hundred  hardy  Phlox,  dozens  of  Columbine  plants,  Gaillardias 
by  the  score,  a  rich  and  beautiful  bed  of  Poppies,  rows  of  stately 
Hollyhocks,  velvety  Sweet  Williams  for  both  sunny  and  shady 
spots,  and  fragrant  Clove  Pinks  that  shone  star-like  against  their 
carpet  of  gray-green  leaves  and  scented  the  whole  Springtime 
with   their  sweetness. 

The  Columbines  were  not  satisfactory  from  this  planting  for 
the  first  year.  The  second  Spring  saw  them  in  varied  tones, 
Aquilegia  aierulea^  a  heavenly  blue,  A.  chrysantha,  clearest  of 
primrose  yellows,  a  pure  white,  and  the  typical  deep  blue  A. 
vulgaris.  They  proved  to  be  not  only  perennial,  but  evergreen, 
and  the  dainty  loveliness  of  the  plants  at  blossoming  time  hardly 
exceeds  the  delicate  beauty  of  the  finely  cut  foliage  of  soft  blue 
green  that  lasts  all  the  year. 

The  Hollyhocks  in  a  sandy  soil  and  sunny  situation  are  all 
that  can  be  desired.  They  bloom  from  early  Spring  until  late 
Summer  and  always  give  dignity  and  grace  to  the  borders  and 
brightness  and  color  to  the  garden  picture.  No  garden  can  have 
too  many  Hollyhocks,  provided  they  are  kept  as  part  of  the  back- 
ground. 

No  words  of  praise  can  be  too  strong  for  the  description  of 
the  beauty,  grace  and  reliability  of  the  hardy  Phlox.  Of  all  the 
perennials,  whether  raised  from  seed  or  planted  from  nursery 
stock,  it  is  my  favorite  because  of  these  characteristics.  Through 
neglect  and  drought,  through  carelessness  and  flood,  the  Phlox 
blooms  bravely  on,  always  graceful,  always  fragrant,  and  to  me 
its  panicles  are  the  gracious  queens  that  crown  our  Summer  gar- 
dens. Elizabeth  Campbell  and  others  of  clear  salmon  pink 
and  deep  crimson  and  maroon  are  very  desirable  and  beautiful 
when  first  planted.  After  a  few  years,  however,  they  lose  their 
clarity  of  tone  and  must  be  replanted  if  the  garden  color  scheme 
is  to  be  kept  true  to  scale.  From  the  seed  sown  in  September  I  have 
secured  several  desirable  varieties,  but  my  best-loved  ones  are 
the  white,  Jeanne  d'Arc  and  Mrs.  Jenkins,  and    the    Beranger, 


DEPENDABLE  PERENNIALS 


135 


136  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


CANNAS  USED  TO  GOOD  EFFECT  IN  CALIFORNIA 
Yet  any  southern  garden  could  have  just  as  attractive  a  planting  as  this  with  all  its  August 

glory 


which  is  white  suffused  with  rosy  pink  with  a  deeper  pink  center. 
I  plant  these  "en  masse"  and  never  tire  of  their  beauty.  Blossoms 
from  the  seedlings  of  that  sowing  have  given  four  months  or  more 
of  bloom  for  many  succeeding  Summers.  There  were  just  a 
few  of  the  seedlings  that  showed  the  magenta  pink  that  seems 
to  be  typical  of  the  old-fashioned  hardy  Phlox.  These  had  to 
be  dug  up  and  thrown  away,  for  that  muddy  mixture  of  pink 
and  blue  and  violet  that  is  named  magenta  will  *'queer"  a  whol&i 
garden  quicker  than  any  other  color  in  the  scale.  Watch  out' 
for  it,  and  if  your  garden  shows  it  in  Petunias,  Zinnias  or  Phlox, 
root  it  out,  being  sure  that,  if  you  are  minus  that  quantity  in  the ' 
color  scheme,  your  garden  equation  will  resolve  itself  into  a  picture,: 
that  will  make  glad  an  artist's  eye  and  heart. 

The  Gaillardias  are  most  satisfactory.  The  gray-green  leaves 
adorn  the  borders  from  season  to  season  and  the  gay  blossoms  of 
orange  and  scarlet,  and  yellow,  that  is  as  rich  as  gold,  are  to  be 
had  for  the  cutting  continuously  from  early  in  April  until  Mid- 


DEPENDABLE  PERENNIALS  137 

summer.  Close  cutting  of  the  flower  stalks  is  necessary  to  gain 
this  result,  but  for  both  the  flowers  in  the  border  and  for  vases 
in  the  rooms  they  are  very  desirable  and  not  usually  seen  in  the 
South. 

SPRING  PLANTINGS   OF  EARLY  PERENNIALS 

Unquestionably  April  is  the  most  beautiful  month  of  the  year 
in  this  section.  Then  it  is  that  the  Spring-blossoming  shrubs 
are  in  full  flower,  the  bulbs  are  still  glorious,  Darwin  Tulips,  Iris 
and  Lilies  show  all  their  exquisite  loveliness.  The  Dogwoods 
star  the  roadsides,  woodlands  and  gardens,  the  drooping  racemes 
of  the  Wistaria  hang  from  every  trellis,  screen  and  porch,  and 
golden-hearted  Cherokee  Roses  send  out  spicy  fragrance  on  the 
soft,  balmy  air.  The  blue  sky  and  warm  sunshine  of  noontide 
alternate  with  the  chill  of  the  midnight  air,  and  so  this  is  the 
accepted  time  for  planting  the  seed  of  those  perennials  which 
will  not  germinate  in  the  heat  of  the  later  days.  Few  southern 
gardeners  plant  the  early  perennials  which  are  the  one  thing  lack- 
ing from  the  radiant  glory  of  our  April  bloom.  All  southern 
gardens,  where  there  is  room,  should  know  the  dainty  loveliness 
of  the  Aquilegias,  the  soft-hued  Campanulas,  the  stately 
Digitalis,  the  wonderful  colors  of  the  Platycodon,  and  the 
fairy-like  Delphiniums.  These  flowers  are  not  only  well  worth 
while  in  themselves,  but  they  fill  the  long  gap  between  the  Spring 
flowers  of  the  shrubs  and  bulbs  and  the  blossoms  of  the  annuals 
that  do  not  bloom  until  later  in  the  Summer. 

All  of  these  perennials  are  valuable  for  the  shaded  situations 
found  in  every  garden  and  which  are  usually  bare  because  so  few 
things  will  grow  even  in  half  shade.  The  heavenly  blue  tones 
found  in  the  Campanulas,  Delphiniums,  Platycodons  and  Aqui- 
legias are  also  unusual  in  the  garden  picture. 

Fill  the  flats  as  usual,  plant  the  seeds  very  carefully,  and  as 
soon  as  the  plants  begin  to  crowd  transplant  into  a  shaded  corner 
of  thfe  garden.  Leave  them  there  until  the  late  Fall  and  then 
place  them  in  permanent  positions.  For  two  years  at  least  they 
will  repay  you  for  your  initial  trouble,  your  careful  watching  and 
patient  waiting. 


138  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Of  the  Columbines,  Aquilcgia  asrulca^  in  blue  and  white,  and 
A.  hybrida  will  be  found  satisfactory.  This  plant  is  exceed- 
ingly decorative  from  the  foliage  standpoint  as  well  as  for  the 
blossoms.     If  cut,   the   latter  will  continue   for   several   months. 

The  Japanese  Bell  Flower,  Platycodon  grandiflora^  in  blue 
and  white,  is  charming  and  effective  when  combined  with 
Heynerocallis  flava,  or  H.  fulva.  Campanula  carpatica  and 
C.  pyramidalis,  the  Chimney  Bell  Flower,  with  the  Cup  and 
Saucer  of  the  Canterbury  Bells,  give  another  set  of  blue  values 
in  the  garden  color  scale.  These  may  also  be  planted  in  rose 
and  white. 

The  Foxgloves,  Digitalis  gloxinixflora^  are  wonderful  when 
they  can  be  successfully  grown.  They  must  have  a  cool  start 
for  seed  germination,  shade  through  the  Summer  months  and 
a  sheltered  position  for  the  Winter.  This  done,  they  begin  to 
bloom  in  February  and  for  six  weeks  are  glorious  anywhere. 
Planted  among  the  broad-leaved  evergreens  so  generally  used 
in  the  South,  they  are  more  effective  than  when  seen  in  the  gar- 
dens of  other  sections,  perhaps  because  to  see  them  blooming  so 
early  is  such  a  surprise.  In  these,  my  favorite  colors  are  the 
rose  and  white,  although  the  purple  is  ^ood  in  some  combina- 
tions.    Being  biennials  the  Foxgloves  must  be  planted  each  year. 

Foxgloves  are  so  beautiful!  Just  the  name  always  brings  to 
my  mind  the  picture  of  a  rich  and  effective  garden  scene  at  High- 
land Falls,  New  York,  three  Summers  ago.  Long  lines  of  stately, 
dignified  blossoms,  rich  in  color  harmonies,  stood  sentinel-like 
against  the  dark  rich  greens  of  Pine  and  Fir  and  Cedar,  with  soft 
green  grass  stretching  away  in  the  foreground  until  lost  in  the 
shadows  of  the  lofty  trees  that  rim  the  beautiful  river  at  that 
point.  Foxgloves  against  conifers  with  turf  in  the  foreground: 
an  ideal  to  be  striven  for. 

In  February  also  the  flower  stalks  of  the  perennial  Delphin- 
iums, or  hardy  Larkspurs,  begin  to  lift  themselves  above  the  cleanly 
cut  leaves.  In  mid-March  the  flower  buds  unfold  and  the  blue 
of  the  sky  is  then  a  part  of  the  garden  glory.  No  flower  shows 
so  clear  a  cerulean  blue,  so  heavenly  an  azure  as  does  Del- 
phinium Th'IIadoJina.     A  clump  of  these  Delphiniums  planted  in 


DEPENDABLE  PERENNIALS 


139 


140  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

the  foreground  of  the  shrubbery  border,  or  in  a  border  of  peren- 
nials framed  in  grass  walks,  with  the  clear  sun  shining  through 
the  petals  of  the  lifted  flower  stalks  that  rise  at  least  two  feet 
above  the  ground,  is  achievement  enough  to  satisfy  the  heart  of 
a  gardener  through  many  weary  days. 

Other  perennials  of  easier  growth  and  more  widely  known  than 
those  just  enumerated  are  the  Candytuft,  Iberis  sempervirens^ 
the  golden  Coreopsis  lanceolata^  for  all  Summer  bloom,  and  the 
Physostegia  virginica,  the  False  Dragonhead.  This  begins  to 
bloom  very  late  in  August,  and  continues  steadily  until  Decem- 
ber.    The  colors  are  pink  and  white  and  a  soft  lavender. 

Plant  one  package  of  each  of  the  seeds  just  given,  follow  care- 
fully the  directions,  and  for  each  dime  that  you  invest  in  seed 
you  may  count  on  having  a  harvest  of  at  least  one  hundredfold 
of  joy,  beauty  and  fragrance  in  your  garden. 


OCTOBER  GLORIES  141 


CHAPTER  XV 


OCTOBER  GLORIES— AND  OCTOBER  WORK 

THEN,  if  ever,  come  perfect  days,"  might  have  been  said 
as  truly  of  October  on  the  banks  of  the  Savannah  as  of 
June  on  the  banks  of  the  Charles.  If  there  is  a  time  of  the  year 
when  the  colors  of  the  blossoms  seem  most  gorgeous,  when  our 
gardens  are  most  attractive,  it  is  the  time  of  the  Harvest  Moon. 
There  is  a  charm,  a  witchery,  about  a  garden  in  the  glory  of  the 
October  moonlight  that  is  to  be  met  there  in  no  other  month  of 
the  year.  It  must  be  that  the  chill  of  the  almost-frosty  nights, 
that  the  seeing  of  the  garden-children  droop  under  the  tang  of 
cold  in  the  air  and  watching  them  fade  one  by  one,  gives  to  those 
that  are  left  a  supreme  wizardry  that  their  more  tender  brothers 
and  sisters  did  not  possess. 

Always  the  Fall  Roses  are  richer  in  color  and  in  fragrance, 
finer  in  every  way,  than  those  that  queened  it  in  the  Spring. 
Never  does  the  Scarlet  Sage  shine  so  brightly  as  when  on  some 
frosty  morning  it  stands  alone — sole  survivor  of  an  onslaught 
from  Jack  Frost.  The  Phlox  holds  up  its  snowy  masses  to  the 
Autumn  sun  and  the  glory  of  the  regal  Chrysanthemums  is  only 
another  marvel  of  an  October  day. 

The  beauties  that  stand  amidst  impending  desolation  serve 
to  remind  us  that  time  presses  and  Christmas  gardens  must  be 
made  now.  With  good  soil,  an  exposure  that  greets  the  morning 
sun.  Pansy  plants  put  in  the  open  now  will  be  gloriously  beautiful 
in  December.  I  purchase  from  the  nurseries  in  October  my  first 
planting  of  Pansies  for  Christmas  blossoms  in  the  porch  boxes 
and  borders.  The  South  is  so  hot  in  July  and  x^ugust  that  closer 
attention  is  required  for  the  seedlings  than  I  have  time  to  give; 


142 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


CHRYSANTHEMUMS-REIGNING  FLOWERS  OF  THE  FALL 
Here  are  pictured  two  types  as  grown  in  the  author's  garden 


OCTOBER  GLORIES 


143 


144  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

hence  my  dependence  on  the  florists  for  the  first  blossoms — which 
I  must  have  for  the  love  I  bear  for  the  unexpectedness  of  the 
Winter  flowers.  As  to  the  cultivation  of  Pansies  and  Violas  in 
the  South,  Chapter  IX,  quoting  from  ''April  Leaves  from  my 
Garden  Book,"  covers  the  subject  in  detail. 

If  you  would  have  green  turf  that  is  like  a  soft  rich  velvet 
carpet  for  the  Winter,  now  is  the  last  minute  in  which  you  have 
to  work.  Many  southern  gardeners  spade  up  the  lawn  as  soon 
as  the  Summer  sun  begins  to  turn  it  brown,  put  in  fertilizer,  and 
sow  the  seed.  The  object  here  is  to  secure  a  deep  root  system 
before  the  cold  weather  comes,  but,  on  the  other  hand,  if  the 
weather  is  very  dry  and  hot,  the  seedlings  are  apt  to  burn  and 
the  best  gardeners  wait  until  October  to  avoid  this  probability. 

As  much  as  possible  of  the  work  in  the  border  should  be  done 
before  the  lawn  is  dug  up  and  replanted  because,  if  not,  there 
must  be  a  constant  making  over  of  the  parts  stepped  on,  or  else 
all  plantings  must  be  delayed. 

If  the  turf  is  very  badly  worn,  if  the  lawn  needs  to  be  regraded, 
if  the  drainage  is  not  what  it  should  be,  and  it  must  be  made  over, 
the  sooner  it  is  done  now,  the  better  results  you  will  have.  If 
you  have  a  Bermuda  or  a  Kentucky  Blue  Grass  sod,  use  bone- 
meal  liberally,  reseed  thickly  with  the  best  grade  Italian  Rye 
Grass  seed,  sowing  in  one  direction  and  then  across  at  right  angles 
to  the  first  sowing,  rake  it  in  carefully,  roll  it  well,  or  press  down 
with  a  board  if  the  soil  has  been  dug  up  and  the  lawn  is  being 
made  anew  and  no  roller  is  at  hand,  and  in  a  few  weeks  you  will 
marvel  at  the  freshness  and  beauty  of  your  turf.  You  will  think 
Springtime  has  come  to  your  door  again. 

For  small  plots  the  rolling  that  comes  with  the  use  of  the 
lawn  mower  will  be  sufficient  to  make  the  turf  firm  and  solid, 
but  the  heavier  and  oftener  the  rolling  is  done  the  quicker  will 
the  lawn  become  like  the  velvet  carpet  you  are  aiming  to  make 
it.  The  best  gardeners  do  not  dig  up  the  lawn  each  year;  they 
work  over  the  bad  spots,  root  up  the  weeds,  reseed  for  the  Winter 
greenness  and  each  year  the  turf  becomes  firmer  and  more  beau- 
tiful. 


OCTOBER  GLORIES  145 

Any  householder  in  the  South  who  allows  his  lawn  to  become 
brown  and  stay  so  all  Winter  is  cheating  himself,  his  family,  and 
his  neighbors — to  say  nothing  of  his  section  of  the  country.  Noth- 
ing appeals  to  the  tourists  from  the  snowbound  sections  more 
than  our  green,  mossy  lawns  and  dooryards,  when  January 
snows  have  driven  them  to  our  more  favored  clime.  Plant, 
then,  grass  seed  and  plant  it  generously. 

As  the  Summer  flowers  wither  and  die,  fertilizer  should  be 
put  in,  the  perennials  carefully  attended  to  and  the  bulbs  planted. 
If  the  lawn  does  not  have  to  be  made  over  from  the  beginning 
it  is  possible  to  plant  the  bulbs  as  the  borders  are  ready  for  them 
and,  in  this  way,  a  natural  succession  of  bloom  is  assured.  All 
the  standard  bulbs.  Hyacinths,  Narcissi,  Daffodils,  Crocuses, 
Jonquils,  Tulips  and  Snowdrops,  are  perfectly  hardy  in  the  South 
and  may  be  put  out  safely  until  December.  It  is  only  when  a 
sharp,  cold  snap  comes  after  the  blossoms  are  showing  that  dis- 
aster results.  This  does  not  often  happen.  In  buying  bulbs 
remember  that  the  best  are  always  the  cheapest.  Plant  them 
in  masses,  as  many  as  you  can  possibly  buy,  follow  any  good 
article  on  the  planting  of  the  same  and  no  mistake  or  disappoint- 
ment will  result. 

When  making  out  your  list — which  ought  to  have  been  done 
in  August — do  not  forget  to  include  the  Irises,  /.  hispanica^  those 
orchids  of  the  Spring  garden,  /.  Kaemp/eri  and  /.  germanica. 
Iris  hispanica  is  not  usually  seen  in  the  South  but  all  of  the  group 
are  radiantly  lovely,  easily  grown  and  as  well  adapted  to  the 
formal  bulb  garden  as  to  the  naturalized  plantings. 

The  most  wonderfully  beautiful  Iris  planting  that  I  have 
ever  seen,  however,  was  where  bulbs  were  planted  by  the  thousand 
on  the  banks  of  a  small  brooklet  that  made  merry  music  as  it 
rippled  over  the  stones  from  one  level  to  another  and  sang  its 
song  of  Springtime  and  Summer  as  it  made  its  way  between  these 
lovely. flowers  of  softest  Hlac,  clearest  azure,  deepest  violet,  golden 
yellow,  silvery  white,  and  softest  ivory  and  creamy  tones.  One 
associates  them  with  water  and  if  it  is  possible  plant  them  near 
a  pool  or  pond  or  brook,  but,  if  not,  plant  them  anywhere,  always 


146 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


in    sunshiny    situations.     They    are    worth    while    wherever    and 
whenever  seen. 

October  is  truly  the  between-time  in  our  gardens.  The  bor- 
ders are  still  filled  with  blossoms  bright  and  flowers  gay,  the 
Summer  vegetables  are  not  yet  over,  the  seed  beds  are  filled  with 
plants  waiting  to  be  put  out  and  yet  all  one  can  do  is  to  wait. 
Fortunately,  the  best  scheme  for  the  garden  maker  is  the  same 
as  the  best  scheme  of  life:  do  each  day  the  duty  that  lies  nearest, 
enjoy  to  the  full  the  beauty  and  fragrance  of  each  one  of  the 
passing  hours  and  flowers,  and  living  in  the  happy  present,  the 
future  will  take  care  of  itself. 


A  bird's-eye  view  of  Sweet  Peas  as  grown  at  Bryan,  Texas,  taken  in  April.    Who  says  the 
South  cannot  enjoy  Sweet  Peas  ? 


SWEET  PEAS  147 


CHAPTER  XVI 


SWEET  PEAS— FOR  SPRING  BLOSSOMING 

NO  plants  in  our  garden  catalogues  give  more  of  beauty,  more 
of  sweetness,  more  of  pleasure  in  the  growing  than  the 
dainty  Sweet  Peas.  They  are  impracticable  for  the  small  garden, 
however.  To  be  successfully  grown  they  must  have  a  deep  rich 
soil,  preferably  rather  heavy,  as  clay  loam,  good  drainage  and 
a  sunny  situation.     They  should  be  planted  in  November. 

In  planting,  always  have  a  trench  dug  about  a  foot  wide  and 
nearly  that  deep.  In  this  put  well-decomposed  manure,  wood 
ashes  and  soil,  thoroughly  mixed.  Plant  the  seeds  in  the  bottom 
of  a  trench  which  is  left,  about  seven  inches  deep.  Pack  the 
earth  firmly  about  them  and  as  soon  as  they  grow  to  about  three 
inches  draw  the  earth  up  around  them;  do  this  two  inches  at  a 
time  thereafter,  not  only  until  the  trench  is  filled,  but  until  the 
Peas  are  hilled  for  several  inches.  This  gives  them  a  very  deep 
root  system  and  enables  them  to  stand  the  southern  heat.  By 
Christmas  the  trenches  will  be  nearly  full  and  nearly  always  at 
Easter  the  first  Sweet  Peas  are  in  bloom. 

Those  who  grow  the  finest  Sweet  Peas  in  this  section  advise 
Fall  planting,  but  good  results  may  be  obtained  from  sowings 
made  as  late  as  January.  The  latter  practice  is  a  little  risky, 
however.  The  newly  planted  seeds  are  very  much  more  apt  to 
be  injured  by  the  cold  that  usually  comes  in  January  and  Feb- 
ruary than  when  the  plants  are  securely  rooted  as  a  result  of  their 
Autumn  start. 

For  support  for  Sweet  Peas  use  four-foot  chicken  wire,  with 
two-inch  mesh,  fastened  to  stout  stakes.  I  use  thirty-foot  lengths 
and  three  stakes  are  all  that  are  necessary.     These  stakes  are 


148 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


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149 


set  in  position  before  the  trenches  are  planted  and  the  seeds  are 
sown  on  both  sides  of  the  wire  if  they  are  planted  in  the  open 
rows.  If  it  is  necessary  to  put  them  in  a  thickly  planted  border, 
it  will  be  possible  to  make  but  one  trench.  Still  the  wires  are 
almost  invisible  and  the  stakes  so  far  apart  that  they  do  not  look 
unseemly,  and  where  space  is  limited  and  such  flowers  desired, 
this  is  decidedly  the  most  artistic  and  easy  thing  to  do.  Against 
a  background  of  evergreen  vines  that  cover  a  fence,  the  Sweet 
Pea  trellises  are  not  ugly  and  the  Sweet  Pea  blossoms  and  vines 
are  very  attractive  and  give  cut  flowers  for  many  weeks. 


THE  CHARM  OF  SWEET  PEAS  IN  THE  HOME 

Is  no  less  than  their  charm  in  the  garden.      Fragrance,  form,  color  shadings  and  dainty 

foliage,  all  contribute  to  the  effect 


150  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

In  planting  the  Sweet  Peas  it  is  much  more  satisfactory  to 
have  the  different  colors  planted  separately.  It  facilitates  cut- 
ting, they  are  easier  to  arrange  and  far  more  beautiful  in  clusters 
of  pinks,  whites,  hlacs,  violets  and  the  different  shades  of  red 
and  the  dainty  primrose  tones  growing  in  masses  of  each  color 
than  if  they  are  indiscriminately  mixed. 

One  row  of  thirty  feet  will  give  bloom  for  many  vases  for 
many  weeks  if  closely  cut  daily,  but  if  the  garden  space  is  limited 
and  there  is  not  room  enough  for  a  planting  of  this  size,  it  is  well 
to  forego  the  pleasure  of  growing  them  at  home. 

In  the  colder  sections  Spring  planting  of  these  flowers  is  advised, 
the  same  procedure  as  that  given  above  being  used,  only  waiting 
until  the  frost  is  out  of  the  ground  and  the  latter  is  in  good  work- 
ing condition. 

As  for  varieties,  the  Orchid-flowered  and  standard  varieties 
give  one  the  choice  of  daintily  curled  petals  two  or  three  and 
sometimes  four  on  a  stem  in  all  the  lovely  tones  and  shades  and 
the  same  range  of  color  harmonies  in  the  more  even  and  sym- 
metrical blossoms  of  the  Standards.  It  is  usually  a  choice  that 
runs  to  the  more  artistic  Spencers,  and  can  one  question  why  ? 


SHRUBS  FOR  ALL  THE  YEAR 


CHAPTER  XVII 


SATISFACTORY  DECIDUOUS  SHRUBS-FOR  ALL  THE  YEAR 

A  S  a  rule,  November  is  the  acceptable  time  for  the  planting  of 
^  ^  all  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs,  but  no  cut-and-dried  formula 
will  ever  apply  to  our  southern  gardens.  If  your  order  has  to 
be  sent  to  other  than  a  local  nurseryman,  note  on  it,  "Ship  after 
the  first  hard  frost;"  then  you  will  be  ready  at  the  proper  time. 
All  the  small  fruits,  as  well  as  the  deciduous  trees  and  shrubs, 
should  be  planted  during  this  month. 

Shrubs  are  among  the  most  valuable  plants  that  we  have. 
They  may  be  planted  in  groups  of  varying  colors  and  heights 
and  by  selecting  species  that  bloom  at  different  times  a  succes- 
sion of  bloom  may  be  secured.  They  may  be  used  to  fill  in  spaces 
between  trees  in  mass  plantings.  In  this  way  the  canopy  of 
foliage  is  brought  down  to  the  turf.  They  may  be  planted  under 
the  vision  line  of  vistas  and  they  form  a  beautiful  background 
for  borders  of  hardy  perennials  or  annuals.  They  may  be  moved 
from  place  to  place  if  soil  and  conditions  of  exposure  are  not  just 
right.  They  are  worth  while  in  the  garden,  on  the  large  place  or 
m  the  public  parkway,  always  stressing  the  fact  that  they  must 
be  kept  in  good  condition. 

Individual  selection,  largely  a  matter  of  personal  preference, 
size  of  grounds  and  amount  of  money  to  be  expended,  must  all 
be  taken  into  consideration  in  choosing  the  shrubs  for  the  beauti- 
fying of  the  home  grounds.  Remember  that  shrubs  stand  for 
permanent  improvements.  The  first  thing  to  do  is  to  make  a 
drawing  of  the  ideal  to  be  achieved,  making  due  allowance  for 
habits  of  growth,  time  of  bloom,  and  so  forth.  Decide  how 
much  can  be  afforded  at  this  time  for  the  plantings.     Then  selec- 


152  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

tion  may  be  made.  Vacant  places  may  be  left  for  the  later  ever- 
green plantings  or  quick-growing  shrubs  may  be  put  in  with  the 
intention  of  cutting  them  out  later  when  the  slower-growing 
evergreens  are  large  enough  to  cover  the  desired  spaces. 

The  list  of  shrubs  which  follows  gives  those  which  can  be 
depended  upon  for  blossoms  in  season  and  out  of  season  and 
which  will  thrive  without  being  an  undue  tax  upon  the  gardener's 
time.     They  are  all  beautiful  and  desirable. 

The  earliest  of  all  the  deciduous  shrubs  to  bloom  is  Jasminum 
nudiflorum,  which  comes  in  January;  February  brings  the  For- 
sythias,  F.  vmdissima,  F.  suspensa,  and  F.  Fortunei,  with  the 
earliest  of  the  Spiraeas,  S.  prunijolia  fl.  pl.^  commonly  called  the 
Bridal  Wreath;  this  makes  a  striking  contrast  to  the  brilliant 
blossoms  of  the  flaming  Cydonia  japonica,  or  Burning  Bush,  as 
the  Flowering  Quince  is  usually  called;  and  blooming  at  the  same 
time  is  Lonicera  Jragrantissima^  the  fragrant  Honeysuckle,  which 
is  almost  evergreen. 

March  shows  the  blossoms  of  the  Spiraeas,  6".  Reevesiana  and 
S.  Reevesiana  fl.  pi.;  the  Lilacs,  Syringa  vulgaris  and  S.  chinensis, 
and  the  Manchurian  Honeysuckle,  L.  Ruprechtiana ;  with  the 
orange  balls  of  Kerria  japonica,  the  Chinese  Globe  Flower,  and 
the  white  of  the  same  species,  Rhodotypos  kerrioides.  One  of 
the  most  attractive  of  the  March  shrubs  that  is  most  effective 
for  massing  with  che  Spiraeas  and  Lilacs  or  with  the  evergreens 
is  the  Pearl  Bush,  Exochorda  grandiflora. 

April  shows  the  later  Lilacs,  Viburnum  plicatum,  or  Japanese 
Snowball,  old-fashioned  flower  of  our  grandmothers'  time,  but 
always  lovely;  the  Flowering  Crab,  Pyrus  floribunda^  and  the 
Tartarian  Honeysuckle,  Lonicera  tatarica.  Later  in  the  month, 
Spirxa  Van  Houttei  opens  to  the  April  breezes  and  showers  its 
petals  like  drifts  of  snow  as  the  suns  of  May  come  on.  Phila- 
delphus  coronarius,  the  Syringa  of  our  mothers'  day;  the  Deutzias, 
D.  gracilis^  dwarf,  Z).  crenata,  tall,  and  D.  gracilis  rosea,  and  the 
Weigela,  Diervilla  florida,  a  most  charming  shrub  with  rosy- 
colored  flowers  that  cover  its  branches  from  tip  to  stem  and 
make  it  a  most  delightful  companion   for    the  Deutzias,  come 


SHRUBS  FOR  ALL  THE  YEAR 


153 


JASMINUM  NUDIFLORUM,  EARLIEST  OF  SPRING  FLOWERS 
Sometimes  it  blossoms  even  in  January 


154 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


'mm-'- 


SHRUBS  FOR  ALL  THE  YEAR  155 

into  bloom  in  late  April  and  carry  their  flowers  almost  into  June. 
This  latter  shrub  grows  well  in  partial  shade. 

The  Sumac,  or  Smoke  Tree,  Rhus  Cotinus^  is  a  wonderful 
contribution  to  the  beauty  and  attractiveness  of  the  shrubbery 
border  in  May.  This,  with  Jasmine  revolutum^  carries  us  into 
June  when  the  showy  Punicas,  P.  granatum,  P.  alba^  P.  rubra^ 
and  P.  variegata,  the  flowering  Pomegranates,  come  into  bloom. 
There  are  no  more  showy  and  brilliant  shrubs.  The  foliage  is 
of  bright  lustrous  green,  and  even  in  Winter  the  tracery  of  the 
reddish  brown  branches  is  decorative.  When,  in  the  early  Spring, 
the  Pomegranate  puts  out  its  delicate,  rosy-tipped  leaf  buds, 
with  almost  orange  lights  in  the  unfolding  leaves,  it  is  a  charming 
picture,  if  seen  against  a  background  of  dark  evergreen  shrub- 
bery, like  the  Neriums  or  the  Laurels.  In  Midsummer  the  flame- 
colored  blossoms  contrast  wonderfully  with  the  delicate  purity 
of  masses  of  white  Oleanders.  Never  plant  the  Pomegranates 
near  any  shrub  with  pink  flowers. 

For  Midsummer  blossom.  Althaeas  {Hibiscus  syriacus)  are 
most  pleasing  when  planted  in  groups  or  as  a  hedge.  Hydrangea 
arborescens  grandiflora  alba  is  the  earliest  to  come  into  bloom 
and  lasts  almost  the  entire  season.  Hydrangea  monstrosa  and 
H.  Otaksa  are  old  favorites  and  generally  known,  and  H.  panic- 
ulata  grandiflora  deserves  a  place  in  every  southern  garden. 
The  Hydrangeas  do  not  mix  well  with  other  shrubs  and  it  is  best 
to  keep  them  for  shady  corners  and  northern  exposures  where 
sun-loving  plants  will  not  thrive. 

The  Summer-flowering  Spiraeas,  S.  Billardi,  S.  Bumalda^  the 
everblooming  S.  Bumalda  Anthony  Waterer,  deeper  in  color  than 
^S'.  Douglasii,  and  ^S".  japonica^  give  a  quintette  of  pink  Spiraeas 
that  will  furnish  bloom  for  many  months. 

The  American  Elder,  Sambucus  canadensis,  with  its  flat- 
topped  cymes  of  creamy  blossoms,  should  be  planted  much  oftener 
than  it  is.  Delightful  companions  for  this  planting  are  the  deli- 
cate Fern-leaved  Sumacs,  Rhus  aromatica  and  R.  Michauxi, 
with  panicles  of  creamy  flowers  in  August  and  September  and 
brilliant  berries  that  remain  through  the  Winter.  Not  the  least 
attraction  of  the  Sumacs  is  the  vivid   color  of  the  foliage  just 


156  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

before  it  falls  in  the  Autumn.  These  plantings  can  be  had  for 
the  digging  on  almost  every  roadside  in  the  South.  They  give 
blossom  at  seasons  when  flowers  are  scarce  and  in  addition  have 
delicate  foliage  of  attractive  color.  They  should  be  planted 
much  more  than  they  are. 

Even  though  it  is  November  and  the  year  is  in  the  sere  and 
yellow  leaf,  we  do  well  to  cherish  the  Summer  blossoms  that  still 
brighten  our  gardens.  My  garden  book  shows  that  last  year 
there  were  Roses,  Zinnias,  Salvia  and  Chrysanthemums  for  cut- 
ting until  late  in  December.  Not  just  a  few,  but  in  quantity, 
although  the  Winter  flowers,  Violets  and  Tea  Olive  and  the 
Laurustinus,  were  also  in  bloom.  If  the  garden  is  still  barren 
of  bulbs,  do  not  hesitate  to  put  them  in.  Even  late  November 
plantings  will  give  you  Spring  blossoms  in  rich  and  fragrant 
luxuriance.  It  is  good  to  make  gardens  in  the  South,  for  one  can 
go  to  sleep  in  Summer  and  wake  up  in  Midwinter  and  still  have 
a  Spring  garden.  But  it  is  the  wide-awake  gardener  who  gets 
the  earliest  flowers,  the  best  of  the  lot,  and  the  greatest  number; 
for  in  garden  making,  as  in  everything  else  worth  while,  diligence 
and  perseverance  always  bring  a  rich  reward. 


SHRUBS  FOR  ALL  THE  YEAR 


157 


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158 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


VINES  FOR  COTTAGE  AND  MANSION 


159 


Rosa  de  Montana  or  Coral  Vine  (Antigonon  leptopus) 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


VINES— FOR  COTTAGE  AND  FOR  MANSION 


TT^ROM  the  multiplicity  of  vines  that  may  be  grown  in  the 
^  South,  choice  would  seem  to  be  unlimited,  but  in  reality 
there  are  not  a  great  many  on  which  one  can  depend  for  unfailing 
beauty  and  grace.  First  among  the  evergreen  vines  for  founda- 
tion walls  of  buildings  and  terraces,  and  also  for  climbing  on  pil- 
lars and  pergolas,  nothing  is  more  desirable  than  the  English  Ivy, 
Hede7'a  helix.  For  the  same  purposes,  of  a  lighter  green  in  color, 
with  larger  leaves  and  ranker  growth,  but  much  less  hardy,  is 
the  Hedera  algeriensis^  which  is  a  very  beautiful  vine  coming 
into  more  and  more  general  use.  Of  slower  growth  and  suited 
more  for  covering  walls  and  banks  and  carpeting  the  ground 
than  for  climbing  to  heights  is  the  climbing  ^.uonymuSy  Euonyjnus 
radicans.  For  a  close  covering  of  stone  or  brick  or  wooden  walls 
the  trailing  Fig,  Ficus  repens,  is  a  most  beautiful  vine.      It  clings 


160 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


ROSE  VINES  ARE  NEVER  MORE  CHARMING  THAN  ON  A  PERGOLA  TRELLIS 
The  plants  shown  will  be  more  effective  as  they  grow  larger.      As  to  the  piece  of  pipe  with 
the  Palm  in  the  center  of  the  bed— does  anyone  think  it  attractive?  ' 


very  closely,  does  not  have  to  be  supported  or  fastened  to  the 
wall,  as  do  the  Hederas  and  Euonymus,  and  is  very  delicate  and 
dainty.  It  makes  a  thick  green  mass,  of  almost  the  same  color. 
Its  leaves  are  very  dark  green,  finely  marked,  and  unless  the 
Winter  is  very  severe  it  is  hardy  and  evergreen  in  the  latitude  of 
Augusta.  If  killed  down  in  the  Winter,  it  very  quickly  puts  out 
in  the  Spring  and  grows  many  feet  each  season.  It  is  not  hardy 
farther  north. 

The  bristly  Greenbrier,  Smilax  Bona-nox,  which  is  evergreen 
in  the  South,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  wild  vines.  It 
is  always  of  a  beautiful  clear  color,  the  young  leaves  are  of  a  del- 
icate green  and  for  covering  columns  and  for  an  evergreen  screen 
where  a  dense  growth  is  required  nothing  will  give  more  satis- 
faction. 


VINES  FOR  COTTAGE  AND  MANSION 


161 


YOUNG  VINES  ON  AN  OLD  HOUSE -BUT  YOU'D  NEVER  KNOW  IT 

Who  would  guess  that  the  English  Ivy  draping  this  ancient  dwelling— the  home  of  the 

Augusta  (Ga.)  Women's  Clubs — is  not  over  ten  years  old? 


162 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


GRACEFUL  GARLANDS  OF  VIRGINIA  CREEPER 
The  Ampe'icpsis  quinquefolia  drooping  from  above  greatly  increases  the  charm  of  this  portico 


VINES  FOR  COTTAGE  AND  iMANSION  163 

The  two  most  attractive  evergreen  vines  with  blossoms  for 
southern  plantings,  are  Rhynchospermu?njasminoides,  the  Malayan 
Jasmme,  and  Geisemimn  sempervirens,  the  Carolina  Yellow  Jas- 
mme,  of  course,  not  including  the  evergreen  climbers  among  the 
Roses,  which  are  mentioned  in  a  preceding  chapter.  The  Rhvnchos- 
permum  is  easily  grown  and  blooms  continuously  from  April  to 
July.  It  is  of  rather  slow  growth,  but  gains  in  beauty  year  by 
year.  Its  fragrant  clusters  of  starry  white  blossoms  against  the 
background  of  rich,  dark  green  leaves  always  create  a  most  strik- 
ing picture. 

The  Yellow  Jasmine  is  of  daintier  foliage  than  the  Star  Jasmine 
and  its  blossoming  period  is  shorter,  but  it  is  a  mass  of  golden 
yellow  cups  of  amazing  sweetness  just  about  the  time  that  the 
purple  tones  of  the  fragrant  Wistarias  are  flung  out  as  heralds 
of  the  Spring  that  is  to  be.  These  two  vines  are  wonderfully 
beautiful  when  planted  in  conjunction  with  the  Wistarias,  /F. 
chinensis  and  W.  chinensis  alba.  The  Wistaria  comes  into  flower 
before  it  shows  its  leafage  and  needs  an  evergreen  background 
to  bring  out  the  full  beauty  of  its  racemes  of  purple  and  white 
flowers  that  are  usually  borne  in  such  rich  luxuriance.  A  per- 
gola planted  with  Rhynchospermum  and  either  the  white  or  the 
purple  Wistaria  is  a  picture  that  never  fails  to  delight.  Masses 
of  the  purple  blossoms  hanging  from  the  top  of  a  leafless,  weather- 
bleached  grey  tree  trunk  with  a  long  reach  of  green  turf  in  the 
foreground  and  evergreen  shrubbery  in  the  background,  was  one 
of  the  finest  pictures  caught  by  the  camera  artist  this  fleeting 
Spring  and  cherished  thus  for  a  leaf  in  memory's  garden  book. 

The  Boston  Ivy,  Ampelopsis  Veitchii,  and  the  Virginia  Creeper, 
Ampelopsis  quinquefolia,  are  two  of  the  hardy  vines  that  are 
used  for  covering  walls  and  structures  where  it  is  not  advisable 
to  use  evergreen  vines.  For  screening  porches  on  the  second 
floor  Ampelopsis  arborea,  the  Pepper  Vine,  is  a  handsome  climber 
with  compound  leaves  of  a  beautiful  bluish  green  that  climbs 
quickly  to  great  heights.  The  blossoms  are  insignificant,  but 
very  fragrant,  and  the  bees  are  very  fond  of  them.  The  berries 
are  at  first  red  and  finally  black,  and  borne  in  such  quantities 


164 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


that  the  vines  are  quite  ornamental  in  the  Fall.  It  is  hardy  south 
of  Virginia  and  Missouri. 

The  Honeysuckles  are  evergreen  in  the  South  and  are  much 
used  for  screens  and  trellises  and,  in  fact,  anywhere  that  a  vine 
is  to  be  used.  Lonicera  japonica  is  a  rampant  grower  frequently 
used  for  covering  tall  screens,  and  the  blue-green  leaves  of  the 
native  Woodbine,  Lonicera  sempervirens^  are  most  attractive 
when  trained  around  the  porch  pillars  where  their  scarlet  blos- 
soms can  show  in  the  early  Spring.  The  purple-leaved  Chinese 
Honeysuckle,  Lonicera  chinensis,  is  also  evergreen  and  not  very 
often  seen. 

A  very  showy  wild  vine  that  should  be  more  often  used  is 
the  evergreen  Trumpet  Flower,  commonly  called  the  Cross  Vine, 
Bignonia  crucigera,  which  thrives  in  rich  moist  soils  and  quickly 


IVY  IS  A  MOST  APPROPRIATE  DRAPERY  FOR  A  SUNDIAL 
Here  the  vine-clad  dial  stands  just  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  Mimosa  tree;   clipped  Amoor 


Privet 


the  walk 


VINES  FOR  COTTAGE  AND  MANSION 


165 


STAR  JASMINE  AND  CHEROKEE  ROSES 
Both  are  evergreen  and  wonderfully  lovely  here.      The  Jasmine  is  Rhynochospermum 

jasminoides 


166 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


VINES  FOR  COTTAGE  AND  MANSION  167 

climbs  to  fifty  feet  or  more.  It  is  wonderfully  beautiful  in  the 
woods  of  Louisiana  but  is  easily  naturalized  and  worthy  of  garden 
space.  This  vine  should  not  be  confused  with  the  deciduous 
Trumpet  Vine,  Tecoma  radicans^  which  bears  its  showy  clusters 
of  tawny  red-orange  flowers  in  Midsummer.  The  Cross  Vine 
has  orange-yellow  flowers  in  late  Spring  and  early  Summer  and 
is  a  much  more  vigorous  grower  than  the  later  American  Trumpet 
Vine. 

All  the  Clematis  vines  are  delicate  and  beautiful,  but  the 
easiest  to  grow,  as  well  as  the  hardiest,  is  Clematis  paniculata, 
which  is  much  used  for  covering  trellises  and  porches  and  can 
be  relied  on  for  a  perennial  efl^ect.  The  large  flowering  hybrid 
kinds  require  deep,  moist  soils,  yet  the  situation  must  be  well- 
drained  and  the  soil  porous.  In  the  latitude  of  Savannah  and 
New  Orleans  and  farther  South  they  grow  vigorously.  In  the 
higher  altitudes  they  need  to  be  protected.  The  annual  vines, 
such  as  the  Ipomoeas,  the  climbing  Nasturtiums,  the  graceful 
and  delicate  Cypress,  the  Cardinal  Flower,  Humulus  japonica 
(the  hardy  and  quick-growing  Hop),  the  ornamental  Gourds, 
the  Dolichos  or  Hyacinth  Bean,  both  red  and  white,  delicate  and 
fragrant  in  flower  and  making  a  thick  screen — and  many  others, 
are  valuable,  beautiful,  and  quick  climbers.  That  Jack-and-the- 
Beanstalk  Vine,  the  Kudzu,  is,  perhaps,  almost  of  too  rank  a 
growth  to  be  recommended. 

However,  the  main  point  is,  plant  vines  and  cover  up  the 
fences,  screen  the  ugly  views  and  keep  them  screened  and  out  of 
sight  from  month  to  month  and  year  to  year.  The  simplest 
cottage  is  made  more  attractive  by  such  plantings  and  the  lord- 
liest mansion  is  made  more  gracious  by  their  use.  They  take 
up  less  ground  space  than  any  other  growing  things,  and  by  blos- 
som and  leaf  and  tendrils  do  their  part  to  make  the  world  greener, 
more  artistic  and  less  ugly  all  the  time. 

After  the  beautiful  Clematis  paniculata  has  showered  its  clouds 
of  white  fragrance  through  all  the  Midsummer  days  we  are  sur- 
prised to  find  that  September  brings  it  fair  rivals  in  two  other 
hardy  vines  of  heart-shaped  leaves  and  wonderful  beauty  of 
flower. 


168  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Polygonum  marginatum  is  a  vine  of  recent  introduction.  Its 
leaves  are  silky  and  smooth,  and  the  growth  of  the  vine  is  very 
graceful.  Both  this  vine  and  the  Mexican  Rose,  x^ntigonon, 
have  heart-shaped  foliage  that  covers  the  long  drooping  tendrils 
with  leaves  of  varied  sizes,  beginning  with  baby  hearts  and  increas- 
ing in  size  until  they  are  as  large  as  a  giant's  hand. 

When  the  Polygonum  is  a  cloud  of  white  the  Antigonon  is 
covered  with  masses  of  pink  coral  drops.  Both  of  these  vines 
are  most  useful  for  covering  trellises,  making  screens  wherever 
needed,  and  are  much  used  for  decoration.  September  brides 
are  very  fond  of  them. 

Pergola  and  porch  effects  of  great  beauty  may  be  gained  by 
planting  two  or  more  vines  in  combination.  Always  use  an 
evergreen  vine  for  background  and  to  give  the  requisite  evergreen 
note,  thus  avoiding  ugliness  and  bareness  in  the  Winter  months. 
The  wild  Smilax  with  pink  Antigonon  and  Cle^natis  paniculata^ 
and  white  Wistaria  or  purple  with  yellow  Jasmine,  are  favorite 
combinations.  White  Wistaria  and  scarlet  Trumpet  Honey- 
suckle with  Ivy  to  give  depth,  is  often  seen.  The  Star  Jasmine 
and  a  Crimson  Rambler  Rose  blooming  at  the  same  time  make 
a  wonderful  picture  of  rich  loveliness.  Pink  Cherokee  Roses 
entwined  with  Honeysuckle  and  Polygonum  are  exquisite.  White 
Roses  and  Honeysuckles  or  Caroline  Testout  Roses  with 
Polygonum  marginatwn  are  beautiful  together,  and  for  quick 
growth  and  hurry-up  effects  the  wealth  of  annual  vines  are  ours 
for  the  choosing.  With  Moonflower  for  fragrance,  blue  Morning 
Glories  for  joy  and  Cardinal  Vines  for  brilliance — who  would 
have  a  bare  column  or  a  sunny  porch  ? 


VINES  FOR  COTTAGE  AND  IVIAXSIOX 


169 


CHARMING  SCREENS  OF  WHITE  WISTARIA  AND  CLEMATIS  PANICULATA 
Boxwood,  Ivy  and  Periwinkle  in  boxes  make  hanging  gardens  in  all  the  windows  of  Gertrude 

Capen  Whitney's  home 


170 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


SOUTHERN  LAWNS  171 


CHAPTER  XIX 


THE  MAKING  AND  CARE  OF  SOUTHERN  LAWNS 

ON  many  ot  the  estates  in  the  South,  which  are  used  only  as 
Winter  residences,  June  is  the  regular  time  for  making  over 
the  lawns.  Fertilizers  are  freely  used,  and  after  being  spread 
over  the  surface  are  ploughed  in.  The  ploughing  is  usually  very 
deep  and  the  sod  is  then  disc-harrowed  in  order  to  cut  it  very 
fine.  This  done,  the  surface  is  raked  as  fine  and  smooth  as  it 
is  possible  to  get  it  and  then  is  left  to  mellow  until  October.  Deep 
raking  and  smoothing  at  this  time  are  followed  by  thick  seeding 
with  an  evergreen  lawn  grass  seed,  and  after  a  rolling  with  a  heavy 
roller  and  a  watering,  the  lawn  is  left  to  grow. 

In  a  few  weeks  the  seed  will  have  germinated  and  grown 
sufficently  to  allow  cutting.  Alternate  rolling  and  cutting, 
weekly,  from  this 'time  until  December  will  result  in  a  sod  that 
is  springy  and  firm  to  walk  on,  soft  and  velvety  to  touch,  and 
a  picture  of  green  loveliness  on  which  to  feast  the  eyes. 

This  procedure  is  most  expensive,  and  only  those  with  long 
purses  can  afford  to  indulge.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  most 
of  us  have  to  live  in  our  homes  twelve  months  of  the  year,  rather 
than  five,  and  are  more  interested,  therefore,  in  the  making  and 
care  of  an  all-the-year  lawn,  than  we  are  in  one  that  is  beautiful 
for  less  than  half  of  that  time. 

In  this  section  of  the  South  and  farther,  there  is  but  one  grass 
that  can  be  depended  upon  to  give  greenness  throughout  the 
hot,  dry  Summer  months:  that  is  Bermuda  grass,  Capriola  iCy no- 
don)  dactylon.  This  grows  anywhere,  except  under  trees  where 
.there  is  dense  shade;  it  may  be  depended  on  for  lush,  rich  turf 
in  fertile  soils,  and  for  strong,  good  sod  on  even  the  poorest  soil. 


172  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

The  roots  spread  by  an  underground  system  and  go  down  so 
deep  that  for  planting  on  banks  or  where  the  soil  is  apt  to  wash, 
nothing  is  better. 

The  best  way  to  plant  Bermuda  is  to  get  the  roots,  cut  them 
up  fine,  and  drill  the  sprigs  in  furrows  twelve  inches  apart  each 
way.  Then  the  ground  should  be  rolled.  The  cuttings  grow 
easily  in  the  Spring  and  can  be  planted  at  any  time  except  in 
extremely  dry  weather  in  Midsummer  and  in  the  Midwinter 
season.  This  planting  will  give  an  even  turf  that  should  be  rolled 
regularly  and  cut  often.  This  grass  alone  will  give  a  beautiful, 
soft,  blue-green  Summer  sod  that  will  stand  the  hardest  wear. 
When  September  comes  the  Bermuda  begins  to  turn  brown,  and 
quick,  hard  work  is  necessary  to  keep  the  lawn  in  trim.  The 
sod  should  be  cut  very  closely  with  a  good  lawn  mower,  raked 
as  smooth  and  clean  as  is  possible,  and  over  it  a  seeding  of  Winter 
grasses  should  be  made. 

Italian  Rye  grass,  Lolium  italicum^  and  White  Clover,  Tri- 
folium  repenSy  used  in  the  proportions  of  three  to  two,  make  a 
delightful  Winter  combination.  The  Rye  grass  is  an  annual 
and  must  be  sown  anew  each  Fall,  but  there  is  no  grass  known 
to  us  that  makes  so  fresh  and  green  a  lawn.  Closely  cut  and 
regularly  rolled,  it  is  impossible  to  describe  its  beauty.  Clover 
is  always  lovely  and  does  not  have  to  be  sown  again  each  season. 
Also  it  grows  under  the  trees  where  the  Bermuda  will  not  thrive. 

Pacey's,  or  English  Rye  grass,  Lolium  perenne^  is  not  quite 
so  desirable  as  the  Italian  for  fresh  beauty  in  the  Winter  months, 
but  it  is  a  perennial  and  will  last  four  or  five  years.  This  is  also 
about  the  length  of  time  allowed  by  many  good  gardeners  for  the 
making  over  of  the  Bermuda  lawns,  so  that  if  the  Bermuda  is 
used  in  the  Spring,  and  the  Clover  and  Rye  in  the  Fall,  the  lawn 
should  last  for  several  years,  with  just  enough  reseeding  of  the 
bare  spots  to  keep  it  even  and  neat. 

Cottonseed  meal  and  bonemeal  used  in  the  Spring  are  most 
valuable  aids  to  strong  growth  and  even  sods.  They  should  be 
used  in  preference  to  stable  manure,  unless  the  latter  can  be 
ploughed  in  deeply,  and,  even  then,  this  must  always  be  followed 
by  a  warfare  against  weeds  that  must  be  waged  even  more  vigor- 


SOUTHERN  LAWNS 


173 


CO     o 

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o  .£ 


174 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


SOUTHERN  LAWNS 


175 


176 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


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SOUTHERN  LAWNS  177 

ously  than  usual,  and  all  of  us  who  make  lawns  know  that  this 
is  an  endless  battle. 

Where  it  is  not  possible  to  secure  the  Bermuda  roots  for  Sum- 
mer growth,  plant  the  seed.  Many  use  the  Bermuda  roots  in 
Spring  and  disc-harrow  in  the  Fall  and  plant  the  Georgia  Bur 
Clover,  Medicago  arabica^  declaring  that  one  planting  of  this  makes 
either  pasture  or  lawn  for  a  lifetime.  For  large  areas,  for  parks 
and  much-used  lawns,  these  two  grasses  are  unequaled.  For 
the  smaller  places  the  Rye  grasses  and  Clover  for  Winter  and  the 
Bermuda  grass  for  the  Summer  will  give  best  results. 

Farther  South,  in  Charleston  and  Savannah,  and  on  the  warm, 
sandy  coastlands,  St.  Augustine  Grass,  Stenotaphrum  dimitiatum^ 
is  much  used.  This  is  grown  from  cuttings  set  in  Summer,  one 
foot  apart;  every  joint  takes  root  and  becomes  a  new  center. 
It  makes  a  dense,  carpet-like  growth  and  is  almost  evergreen. 
It  is  often  planted  inland  but  seems  to  need  the  tang  of  the  salt 
air  for  best  results. 

An  attested  mixture  of  evergreen  lawn  grass  (recleaned,  seed) 
that  has  been  used  this  Winter  with  excellent  results  and  is  now 
making  a  strong  Spring  growth  that  bids  fair  to  hold  out  through 
the  Summer,  is  composed  of  the  following  six  grasses:  Kentucky 
Blue  {Poa  pratensis),  good  for  the  higher  sections  of  the  South; 
Red  Top  {Agrostis  vulgaris)^  good  for  filling  in  with  the  Blue  Grass; 
English  Rye  {Lolium  perenne);  Italian  Rye  {Lolium  italicum); 
Bermuda  {Capriola  dactylon)^  and  White  Clover  {Trifoliujn  repens). 
This  may  be  planted  in  either  Fall  or  Spring  with  good  results 
and  if  the  soil  is  properly  prepared,  if  the  lawn  is  kept  well  rolled 
and  carefully  cut — not  only  will  it  be  in  good  condition  for  the 
Winter  but  throughout  all   the  year. 

My  favorite  lawn  is  that  first  mentioned:  Bermuda  Grass 
for  the  Summer,  Italian  Rye  for  Winter,  and  White  Clover  for 
the  shady  spots  and  for  Spring  and  Fall.  There  is  absolute 
necessity  for  close  cutting  at  all  seasons  if  you  would  have  a  good 
lawn.  Not  only  must  this  be  done  but  eternal  warfare  must  be 
waged  on  the  weeds. 

My  ambition  for  the  South  is  not  only  a  garden  for  every 
home,  but  a  lawn  as  well. 


178 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


FLOWERING  TREES  179 


CHAPTER  XX 


FLOWERING  TREES  FOR  ALL  SEASONS 

^T^HE  Winter-blossoming  trees  available  for  planting  along  the 
-■-  Gulf  Coast  and  in  the  lower  sections  of  the  South  are  all 
beautiful  and  many  of  them  are  unusual.  The  Tea  Olive,  Oka 
fragrans,  is  usually  classed  as  a  shrub,  but,  if  well  cultivated  and 
given  plenty  of  room,  soon  attains  the  proportions  of  a  tree.  It 
is  the  most  fragrant  of  all  our  trees  and  shrubs,  the  blossoms 
making  up  in  sweetness  what  they  lack  in  size. 

The  Japanese  Loquat  or  Medlar,  Eriobotrya  japonica,  is 
another  tree  with  flowers  of  cloying  fragrance  that  comes  into 
bloom  in  November  and  lasts  almost  until  Christmas.  This 
tree  also  has  bright  yellow  fruit  from  February  until  May  that 
adds  much  to  its  attractiveness.  The  fruit,  however,  does  not 
mature  in  the  sections  colder  than  Savannah.  The  ever-beautiful 
Photinia  serrulata,  with  its  leaf  buds  of  brilliant  red  in  Midwinter, 
becomes  a  sight  to  delight  both  gods  and  men  when  February's 
chilling  rains  make  life  a  burden  and  cheer  much  needed.  It 
is  then  covered  with  corymbs  of  creamy-white  flowers  that  remind 
one  of  the  Summer-flowering  Elders.  With  the  Photinias,  the 
native  Wild  Olive,  Oka  americana,  blooms.  The  blossoms  of 
this  tree  are  individually  insignificant,  but  when  the  multitudi- 
nous clusters  show  among  the  always  ghstening  green  leaves  it 
IS  one  of  the  most  charming  of  the  evergreen  trees.  Defohation 
is  necessary  in  transplanting  this  tree  and  as  the  nurserymen  do 
not  handle  it  very  often  it  is  well  to  remember  this  in  digging 
specimens  in  the  woods  to  transport  to  the  lawns  and  gardens 
which  they  so  worthily  adorn. 


180  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Another  evergreen  tree  that  is  very  beautiful  and  hardy  all 
along  the  Gulf  Coast  is  Cinnamomum  camphora.  While  it  cannot 
be  called  a  flowering  tree,  the  dainty  coloring  in  the  young  leaves 
makes  it  worthy  of  a  prominent  place  in  the  plantings  wherever 
it  can  be  grown.  All  of  the  above  trees  are  classed  as  broad- 
leaved  evergreens  and  are  valuable,  therefore,  for  their  Winter 
foliage  as  well  as  for  their  blossoms. 

The  golden  yellow  balls  of  the  Opoponax,  Acacia  Jam  esiana^ 
with  their  delicate  fragrance,  bring  to  the  gardens  of  the  far  South 
and  Florida  the  aroma  of  the  gardens  of  the  Orient.  With  dainty 
foliage,  finely  cut  and  sensitive  to  the  touch,  and  an  outline  of 
characteristic  grace,  this  tree  should  be  planted  in  the  sub-tropical 
sections  much  more  often  than  it  is,  for  its  blossoms  also  project 
their  haunting  odor  on  the  Midwinter  air. 

The  early  Spring-flowering  trees  that  have  small  white  flowers 
are  the  White  Fringe,  Chionanthus  virginica^  that  we  know  in 
the  woodland  roamings  of  childhood  as  Grand-Daddy's  Grey- 
beard; the  Silver  Bell  and  Snowdrop  Trees,  Mohrodendron  caro- 
linum  and  M.  dipterum^  which  tell  by  their  common  names  the 
nature  of  the  blossoms;  the  characteristic  and  fragrant  clusters 
of  the  hardy  Black  Locust,  Robinia  pseudacacia;  the  Hillside 
Thorn,  Crataegus  collina,  the  English  and  evergreen  Hawthorns, 
Cratxgus  monogyna  and  Crataegus  coccinea  Lalandii;  the  Service 
Berry  and  Shadbush,  Ajnelanchier  botryapium  and  Amelanchier 
canadensis^  known  to  all  plant  lovers;  with  the  later  blooms  of 
the  Yellow  Wood,  Virgilia  lutea,  and  the  most  lovely  of  all,  the 
Sourwood,  Oxydendron  arboreum,  which  bears  clusters  of  flowers 
like  Lilies  of  the  Valley,  all  add  daintiness  to  the  landscape  and 
most  of  them  fragrance  as  well. 

For  the  broader-petaled  white  blooms  of  early  Spring  the  most 
popular  (and  deservedly  so)  is  the  Dogwood  in  its  various  forms. 
Cornus  florida  alba  is  most  used  in  the  South.  The  Hardy  Oranges, 
and  the  Citrange,  grafted  on  the  stock  of  Citrus  trifoiiata^  are 
most  attractive,  and  the  Starry  Magnolia,  M.  stellata,  the  creamy- 
white  Horse  Chestnut,  ^s cuius  parvi flora ^  and  JEsculus  Hip- 
pocastanum^  with  the  Mountain  Ash,  Sorbus  americana^  for  the 
colder  sections,  will  round  out  the  Hst. 


FLOWERING  TREES 


181 


SYRINGA  JAPONICA  IN  ALL  ITS  SPRING  LOVELINESS 

This  is  a  New  York  State  picture,  but  the  tree  would  be  equally  attractive  in  Georgia  and 

would  grow  as  well.    I  know,  for  I  have  tried  it 


182 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


FLOWERING  TREES  183 

To  these  trees  we  may  add  for  the  white  blossoms  the  fruit 
trees,  Cherry,  Plum,  Pear  and  the  flowering  Peach,  Persica  chrys- 
anthemmn  alba  or  Persica  vulgaris.  In  Midsummer,  the  white 
Crape  Myrtle,  LagerstrcsJiiia  indica  alba,  is  very  beautiful.  This 
form  is  not  a  very  vigorous  grower  nor  as  hardy  as  the  pink  varie- 
ties, but  it  is  lovely  enough  to  be  widely  used. 

If  anything  can  be  more  exquisite  than  the  snowy  charm  of 
the  white-blossomed  trees  of  the  Springtime  it  is  when  the  roseate 
hues  of  Peach  and  Apricot,  Crab  Apple  and  flowering  Cherries 
are  seen  etched  in  all  their  dainty  loveliness  against  the  soft,  clear 
blue  of  the  Spring  skies  and  washed  in  the  showers  of  an  April 
noon.  In  order  to  be  sure  of  getting  what  you  want  from  the 
florists  all  trees  should  be  ordered  by  their  standard  names.  The 
nomenclature  of  the  pink-flowering  trees  of  Springtime  is: 
Cornus  florida  rubra,  pink  Dogwood;  Cerasus  japonica,  flowering 
Cherry;  Cercis  japonica,  Judas  tree;  Japanese  Magnolia,  Mag- 
nolia Soulangeana,  and  the  Persica  chrysanthejnum  rosea  and 
rubra,  the  pink-  and  red-flowering  Peaches. 

The  unequaled  richness  of  the  red  Horse  Chestnut,  /Esculus 
rubicunda,  and  the  fiery  scarlet  of  the  Maple  bloom,  Acer  rubrum, 
and  the  carmine  Lagerstroemia  of  Summer  flower  add  deeper 
notes  to  the  color  scheme  and  beauty  to  the  landscape  picture. 

In  striking  contrast  to  the  blossoms  of  pink  and  white  and 
red  are  the  trees  with  flowers  of  yellow  tones.  Of  the  larger 
trees  the  Parasol  Tree  {Sterculia  platanifolia) ,  Laburnum  vulgaris, 
the  Golden  Chain  Tree,  and  the  Tulip  Poplars,  Liriodendron 
tulipijera,  are  rich  and  colorful.  The  Tulip  Tree  is  the  hardest 
to  transplant  but  once  established  is  much  the  most  desirable 
and  beautiful  of  this  group.  For  sidewalk,  parks,  street  and 
lawn  planting  no  other  tree  is  better.  The  deep  orange  found 
in  the  Tulip  Tree  flowers  is  repeated  in  the  blossoms  of  the 
Golden  Rain  Tree  or  Varnish  Tree,  K(£lreuteria  paniculata,  which 
is  a  very  attractive  plant  and  free  from  the  blights  which  so  often 
attack  the  Laburnums.  The  creamy  yellow  Southern  Black 
Haw,  Viburnum  rufidulum,  and  the  Japanese  Pagoda  Tree, 
Sophora  japonica,  complete  the  yellow  side  of  the  scale. 


184  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

The  feathery  purphsh  plumes  of  the  Smoke  Tree,  Rhus  Cotinus^ 
form  a  most  charming  contrast  when  planted  in  conjunction 
with  tawny  yellow  flowers  of  the  Tulip  trees.  For  the  best  effects 
the  Smoke  Trees  should  be  planted  in  masses.  On  the  driveways 
of  the  farms  beautiful  screens  can  be  made  of  these  trees  if  planted 
with    the    evergreen    Cassine    berries  and  the  Japanese   Privets. 

The  quick-growing  China  Berry  trees,  Melia  Azederach  and 
the  umbrella  form,  Melia  Azederach  umbraculiformisy  are  universal 
favorites.  Unquestionably  the  delicate  flowers  of  lilac  and 
primrose  yellow  with  deeper  purple  tips  are  beautiful  and  the 
fragrance  is  very  penetrating;  but  the  tree  is  such  a  glutton  that 
it  absorbs  all  the  soil  nourishment  within  many  feet  of  it  and  is 
such  a  pig  when  it  comes  to  making  trash  that  it  would  be  more 
deserving  of  its  widespread  use  if  it  could  be  induced  to  change  its 
bad  habits. 

Stately  and  elegant  both  in  blossom  and  foliage  are  the  broad- 
leaved  Catalpas,  Catalpa  bignioides  and  C.  speciosa.  The  panicles 
of  purple  blossom  with  orange  throats  that  cover  these  trees  in 
May  and  June  are  very  handsome  and  the  pale  violet  clusters 
that  crown  the  Empress  Tree,  Paulownia  imperialism  make  a 
fitting  garland  for  this  queen  who  has  come  to  us  from  across  the 
Pacific.  Both  the  Catalpas  are  subject  to  a  scale  that  is  very 
hard  to  eradicate  and  is  likely  to  injure  other  plantings  near  it. 

The  Flowering  Willow,  Chilopsis  linearis^  and  Vitex  Agnus- 
castuSy  the  Chaste  Tree,  are  the  only  trees  with  purple  blooms 
that  we  have  in  the  Summer  months.  The  so-called  purple 
Lagerstrcemia  indica  is  so  nearly  a  magenta  in  shade  that  it  should 
be  barred  from  every  garden. 

The  Summer-flowering  trees  are  not  numerous,  but  they  make 
up  in  brilliance  what  they  lack  in  number.  The  evergreen  Privet 
trees,  Ligustrum  japonica  and  L.  lucidum^  begin  to  bloom  in  late 
May  and  continue  well  into  June.  The  flowers  of  characteristic 
beauty  and  odor  are  followed  by  heavy  clusters  of  berries  which 
are  green  with  a  soft  bloom  in  Fall  and  black  in  Winter.  They 
are  truly  beautiful  and  are  quick  growing  and  desirable  garden 
and  lawn  ornaments.  They  are  also  particularly  useful  for  ever- 
green screenings.     Even  as  far  north  as  West  Point,  N.  Y.,  the 


FLOWERING  TREES 


185 


186 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


MAGNOLIA  BLOSSOMS  PRODUCE  AN  EFFECT  THAT  IS  ALMOST  UNBELIEV- 

ABLE-UNTIL  YOU  SEE  IT 

This  is  a  specimen  of  Magnolia  Soulangeana 


FLOWERING  TREES  187 

Japanese  Lilac,  Syringa  japonica^  is  hardy  and  wonderfully 
beautiful.  The  broad  corymbs  of  creamy  white  flowers  stand 
well  above  the  dark  green  of  the  leaves  which  are  of  large  size 
and  heavy  texture  and  the  fragrance  of  the  flowers  is  pungent 
and  strong.  An  avenue  or  drive  lined  with  these  trees  in  bloom 
makes  a  picture  of  exceeding  loveliness. 

More  strictly  southern  and  bringing  the  flavor  of  the  gardens 
of  the  Old  South  into  those  of  the  New  is  Magnolia  grandiflora, 
that  lifts  unnumbered  cups  of  old  ivory  tints  on  lacquered  trays 
of  shining  green  that  the  gods  may  sip  to  their  fill  of  the  nectar 
that  can  only  be  distilled  for  them  among  the  fragrant  blossoms 
of  southern  gardens  in  Midsummer.  As  dainty  as  the  ladies  of 
those  olden  days,  whose  gardens  they  adorned,  is  the  exquisite 
Mimosa,  Acacia  Julibrissin,  with  its  pink-tipped,  thistle-like 
blooms  of  pearl  color.  Every  southern  garden  large  enough  to 
contain  them  should  have  both  of  these  trees,  purely  for  senti- 
ment's sake,  even  if  not  for  their  own  beauty.  The  Magnolias, 
Mimosas,  and  Crape  Myrtles  are  companions  in  the  romantic 
history  of  the  South  and  no  trio  of  tree  planting  could  be  more 
beautiful.  The  delicate  rose-pink  and  the  deeper  rose  madder 
of  the  Crape  Myrtles  make  them  objects  of  striking  interest  and 
beauty  for  many  months  each  year.  As  hedges  they  are  most 
eff"ective.  A  vine-covered  pergola  with  snowy  columns  limned 
against  the  masses  of  a  group  of  pink  Crape  Myrtles  forms  a 
most  artistic  picture. 

Distinction  in  the  planting  of  flowering  trees  can  be  secured 
only  by  planting  them  in  masses,  and  where  the  place  is  small  it 
is  far  better  to  confine  oneself  to  one  variety  exclusively  than  to 
attempt  to  mingle  the  groupings.  Who  has  not  heard  of  the 
beautiful  avenues  of  Cherry  blossoms  that  make  the  roadways' 
of  Japan  the  Mecca  of  tourists  from  all  parts  of  the  world  ?  In 
North  Georgia  there  is  a  turnpike  which  is  bordered  by  Apple 
trees  for  a  distance  of  forty  miles.  Some  day,  when  the  motorists 
discover  its  fairy-like  beauty  in  the  early  Spring,  it  will  also  become 
a  famous  trysting  place  for  the  beauty-lovers  of  the  world.  High 
up  among  the  old  red  hills  its  beauty  and  charm  are  worth  while 
from  early  Spring  until  late  Fall.     One  home  in  mid-Georgia  is 


188 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


Eriobotrya  japonica  the  Japanese  Medlar  or  Loquat,  as  found  at  Brooksville,  Fla. 
Foliage,  blossoms  and  fruit  all  find  favor 


FLOWERING  TREES  189 

known  far  and  wide  for  the  white  and  pink  Crape  Myrtles,  which 
fill  the  air  with  fragrance  and  delight  the  eye  with  beauty,  all 
through  the  long,  hot  Summer  months.  Another  home  is  the 
delight  of  all  the  passing  throng  in  the  early  Spring,  on  account 
of  the  wonderful  vistas  framed  by  its  blossoming  Dogwood  trees, 
both  the  white  and  the  pink  varieties.  I  might  cite  instance 
after  instance  of  places  made  beautiful  and  become  famous  by 
massed  plantings,  but  these  are  mentioned  in  passing,  as  it  were, 
to  stress  the  suggestion  that  if  you  can  only  have  a  few  shrubs  or 
trees  you  should  plant  those  you  select  in  worthy  numbers,  revel 
in  their  beauty  each  recurring  season  and  live  on  the  memories 
of  them  for  the  rest  of  the  year. 


^^TT 


190 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


THE  HISTORIC  CORNWALLIS  OAK 
At  Guilford,  N.  C,  says  tradition,  on  March  15,  1751,  Lord  Cornwallis,  in  command  of  the 
British  troops,  tied  his  horse  to  an  Oak  sapling.     The  horse  ate  the  main  leader  and  the  tree 
developed  this  magnificent  spreading  head.     Who  would  not  treasure  such  an  heirloom  in 

his  or  her  garden  ? 


CONCLUSION  191 


CHAPTER  XXI 


CONCLUSION— DEVOUTLY  HOPED  FOR 

THE  small  householder  is  apt  to  think  that  the  cost  of  perma- 
nent shrubbery  is  so  great  as  to  be  prohibitive  to  the  man 
of  small  means.  This  is  not  true.  The  average  price  of  the 
small  deciduous  and  evergreen  shrubs  is  from  twenty-five  to 
seventy-five  cents  and  many  of  the  former  can  be  bought  for  as 
little  as  ten  cents  each.  Many  of  our  most  beautiful  garden 
children  can  be  found  in  the  wild  woods  for  the  digging  and  can 
be  safely  transplanted,  if  proper  attention  is  given  to  pruning 
and  planting  at  the  time  of  moving.  But,  when  these  plants 
must  be  bought  from  the  nurserymen  (£hd  this  is  the  easiest  and 
usually  most  satisfactory  way  of  handling  them)  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  primary  cost  is  the  only  one  to  be  considered,  so 
they  are  really  much  cheaper  in  the  end  than  the  flowers  that 
grow  from  seed  and  must  be  planted  anew  each  year. 

The  ultimate  care  of  a  shrubbery  border  is  negligible  as  com- 
pared to  the  borders  of  annual  flowers,  which  to  the  average  man 
or  woman  is  the  meaning  conveyed  when  one  speaks  of  making 
a  garden.  Reliable  garden  help  is  very  hard  to  secure,  and  this 
is  another  argument  in  favor  of  the  garden  that  is  planted  with 
evergreen  and  deciduous  shrubs,  that  is  a  joy  to  the  maker  of  it 
from  its  inception,  repays  every  moment  of  care  expended  on  it, 
and  grows  in  interest  and  charm  from  season  to  season.  No 
garden  was  ever  made  in  a  day  and  the  starting  of  it  right,  with 
dependable  plantings,  and  with  a  clear  idea  of  the  aim  to  be 
reached,  will  mean  untold  pleasure  in  the  future. 


192  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 

Making  a  garden  in  the  South  is  different  from  making 
one  in  any  other  section  only  in  the  fact  that  every  month  can  be 
and  should  be  a  garden  working  month  and  every  season  should 
have  its  share  of  bloom  and  beauty  and  sweetness.  Midwinter 
blossoms  are  no  rarer  than  Midsummer  ones  and  garden  work 
is  much  easier  done  in  January  than  in  August.  The  cold  invig- 
orates one  to  energetic  efforts  without  destroying  the  result  of 
the  labor  of  one's  hands  and  heart  and  brain.  The  heat,  on  the 
other  hand,  enervates  and  often  parches  the  plantings  and  not 
much  gardening  can  be  done  in  the  hot  Summer  months.  Because 
this  is  true,  the  Winter  months  give  to  the  women  and  men 
of  the  Southern  States  the  opportunity  they  need  to  make  beauti- 
ful their  homes.  Think  what  it  would  mean  to  the  physical 
value  of  the  farms  of  these  sections  if  every  farmer  would  make 
of  his  dooryard  a  lawn,  would  plant  screens  of  flowering  trees  to 
hide  the  service  quarters  of  his  farm,  would  plant  the  foundation 
lines  of  his  home  with  shrubs  and  would  shield  the  porches  from 
the  Summer  sun  by  means  of  ornamental  vines! 

With  the  prodigal  wealth  of  our  flora,  with  the  ease  of  growth, 
why  is  it  that  the  people  of  the  South  have  not  taken  advantage 
of  their  opportunities  and  made  this  section  the  most  wonder- 
fully beautiful  of  the  world  ^  It  is  simply  because  they  have 
not  seen  the  vision  of  concerted  action,  of  definite  planting  plans, 
of  working  for  beauty  on  the  farms  as  well  as  for  utility.  This 
has  been  true  of  the  past.  It  will  not  be  true  of  the  future.  Our 
boys  have  seen  the  gardens  of  old  England  and  France,  they  have 
come  home  with  inspiration  and  the  will  to  translate  that  ideal 
into  action.  This  means  the  inception  of  a  new  era  and  the 
development  of  the  home  grounds  of  the  South  in  a  way  that  has 
not  been  considered  possible  heretofore.  The  slogan,  "Every 
home  in  a  garden"  will  become  a  truism  before  many  years  have 
passed. 

When  I  began  my  garden  the  plantings  were  good  enough, 
but  were  so  scattered,  so  hidden  by  fences  and  buildings,  that 
there  was  needed  the  eye  of  faith,  the  heart  of  patience,  and  the 
prayer  of  courage  to  undertake  to  transform  the  higgledy-piggledy 
city  lot  into  a  place  of  beauty  and  fragrance;  a  garden  worthy 


CONCLUSION 


193 


194 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


CONCLUSION  195 

of  the  name,  but  that  is  what  it  is  today.  My  ideal  has  been 
to  make  a  picture  of  greenness  and  brilliance  that  will  be  seen 
from  every  window  in  the  house  on  every  day  in  the  year.  This 
I  have  done.  It  is  a  hard  task,  and  I  have  just  begun  to  realize 
my  ideals  of  smooth,  close-shaven  lawns  bordered  by  blossoms 
against  a  background  of  shrubs,  which  are  sometimes  brilliantly 
flower-starred  and  the  rest  of  the  time  rich  and  green.  There 
is  much,  much,  yet  to  do,  but  it  has  been  so  well  worth  while  in 
every  possible  way  that  I  am  glad  to  pass  the  story  of  my  efforts 
on,  hoping  that  some  other  busy  woman  or  man  with  no  more 
time  nor  money  than  I  have  had  will  take  heart  of  grace  and  go 
forth  and  do  likewise. 

The  worst  part  of  a  working  woman's  garden  is  her  limita- 
tion of  time  and  money.  There  are  so  many  things  one  would 
like  to  do  that  just  cannot  be  done  on  account  of  lack  of  funds, 
and  the  going  must  be  so  discouragingly  slow.  After  a  time, 
one  realizes  that  to  "make  haste  slowly"  is  a  good  motto  for  the 
garden  maker.  The  best  part  of  the  worker's  garden  is  that, 
because  each  week  means  a  sacrifice  for  the  garden  work  and 
plantings,  everything  that  gives  beauty  or  fragrance  is  doubly 
a  joy. 

The  men  and  women  who  make  gardens  will  find  them  safety 
valves  for  the  spirit  when  things  go  wrong.  They  will  not  tire 
of  garden  making,  for  the  fascinating  part  of  it  is  that  it  is  never 
finished.  They  must  plant  in  faith,  water  with  hope,  take  counsel 
of  patience;  then,  if  they  are  long-suffering  and  kind,  they  will 
reap  an  abundant  harvest  of  joy  and  peace  and  happiness  as  well 
as  of  Pansies,  and  Roses,  and  Lilies,  and  Poppies,  and  blossoms 
of  every  hue. 


The  End. 


196  THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


INDEX  OF  OWNERS  OR  SITES  OF 
GARDENS  ILLUSTRATED 


Page 

Augusta  (Ga.)  Women's  Clubs 161 

Henry  Barnett,  Sumter,  S.  C 121 

Mr.  Beagle,  Chico,  Cal 136 

Frank  E.  Beane,  Augusta,  Ga 15 

Peter  Bisset,  Washington,  D.  C 82 

Bonaventure  Cemetery,  Savannah,  Ga 32 

Mrs.  A.  H.  Brenner,  Augusta,  Ga (top)  41 

A.  L.  Brooks,  Irving  Park,  Goldsboro,  N.  C 194 

Mrs.  F.  N.  Brunson,  Sumter,  S.  C 107 

Carter  Burdell,  "Winterholme,"  Augusta,  Ga 66,  84,  87 

Judge  E.  H.  Calloway,  Augusta,  Ga 76 

Bryan  Gumming,  Augusta,  Ga 16 

Mrs.  Hiram  Price  Dillon,  Topeka,  Neb 148 

Mrs.  Julia  Lester  Dillon,  "Lesterholme,"  Augusta,  Ga.30,  68,   100,   110,  127 

Eben  W.  Doughty,  Augusta,  Ga 124 

Lawton  B.  Evans,  Augusta,  Ga 77,  104 

Fisher  Park,  Greensboro,  N.  C 88,  166 

Georgia  Railroad  Station,  Augusta,  Ga 129 

C.  W.  Gold,  Goldsboro,  N.  C 112 

Francis  A.  Hardy,  Augusta,  Ga 

Cover,  frontispiece,  46,  49,  78,  92,  143,  158,  173,  175 

H.  C.  Haynesworth,  Sumter,  S.  C 42,  43,  44  (bottom),  45 

Mrs.  John  W.  Herbert,  "Palmetto  Lodge,"  North  Augusta,  S.  C.29,  83,  164 

Highland  Park,  Rochester,  N.  Y 181 

Gardiner  G.  Hubbard,  "Twin  Oaks,"  Washington,  D.  C 67,  69,  77 

C.  C.  Hudson,  Greensboro,  N.  C 25 

Miss  M.  Hughson,  Sumter,  S.  C 135 

Irving  Park,  Greensboro,  N.  C 38,  193 

Dr.  C.  J.  Lemmon,  Sumter,  S.  C 115 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Levy,  Augusta,  Ga 60,   160 

Paul  C.  Lindley,  Greensboro,  N.  C 22,  116,  132,  178 

C.  T.  Mason,  Sumter,  S.  C 35 

Memorial  Park,  Sumter,  S.  C 98,  176 

H.  H.  Morris,  Augusta,  Ga (bottom)  41 

R.  C.  Neely,  Jr.,  Augusta,  Ga (top)  44 

H.  Nehrling,  Gotha,  Fla 54 

James  Parmalee,  Painesville,  0 170 

Royal  Palm  Hotel,  Miami,  Fla 31 

Coles  Phinizy,  Augusta,  Ga 104 

E.  Sternberger,  Greensboro,  N.  C 37,  56 

Mrs.  I.  C.  Strauss,  Sumter,  S.  C 91 

Miss  Marie  Sumerau,  Augusta,  Ga 185 

Gertrude  Capen  Whitney,  Augusta,  Ga 169 

Dr.  Walter  Van  Fleet,  Bell  Station,  Md 50 

Boykin  Wright,  "Coniston,"  Augusta,  Ga 56,  162,  165,  174 

{Illustrations  on  pages  146  and  149,  courtesy  of  W.  Atlee  Burpee  Co.) 


INDEX 


197 


INDEX 


(Figures  in  italics  ind 
A  Page 

Abelia  grandiflora S5,  27,  117 

Acacia  Farnesiana,  180;     Julibris- 

sin 187 

Acer  plantanoides,  38;  rubrum.. .  .  183 
iEsculus  Hippocastanum,180;  par- 

viflora,  180;  rubicunda 183 

African  Marigolds 118, 122 

Ageratum 85,111,118,122 

Agrostis  vulgaris 177 

Althsa,  155;  frutex 117 

Alyssum  saxatile 118,  122 

Amelanchier     Botryapium,     180; 

canadensis .  180 

Ampelopsis   arborea,    163;     quin- 

quefolia,  162,  163;  Veitchii 163 

Antigonon  leptopus 159, 166 

Antirrhinum 85,  86,  122 

Apple,  Flowering  Crab 183 

Aphids 69,126 

Aquilegia.. 122,  133,  134,  138 

Arabis  alpina 122,  133 

Arborvitse 79 

Artemisia  lactifolia 116,  132 

Arsenate  of  lead 126 

Assam  Tea  Plant 23 

Asters 106,  111,  113, 118,  122 

Augusta  gardens 48 

Autumn  sowing 147 

Azalea  amcena,  47;    arborescens, 

51;    calendulacea,  51,  52;    Hi- 

nodigiri,    48;     Kaempferi,    60; 

lutea,  51;  mollis,  48;  Vaseyi,.  .   51 
Azaleas,  47,  49;  deciduous 51,  5^ 


B 

Baby's  Breath 39 

Bamboo,  12J^;  Heavenly ;^^,  27 

Banana  Tree 123 

Bear  Grass 30 

Berberis  japonica,  33;     Thunber- 

gii 36,   3S 

Bermuda  Grass.  .  .  .171,  172, 174,  177 
Bignonia  crucigera 164 


icate  illustrations.) 

Page 

Biota  aurea  conspicua,  65;    B.  a. 

nana,  56',  62;  B.  a.  pyramidalis.   65 

Bordeaux  mixture 125 

Boxwood,  dwarf,  43,  U,  76,  169; 

tall, 2^,39,84 

Bridal  Wreath 152 

Broad-leaved  evergreens 19 

Bur  Clover,  Georgia 177 

Burning  Bush 152 

Buxus  sempervirens,  28,  39,  40; 

B.  s.  suffruticosa 43 


C 

Cactus 16,119 

Calico  Bush 27,28 

Camellias 47,53,5.^ 

Campanula  carpatica,  138;    pyra- 
midalis  138 

Camphor  Tree 180 

Candytuft 76,118 

Canna,  89, 106, 113, 115, 123, 135, 136 

Canterbury  Bells 138 

Capriola  dactylon 171, 174,  177 

Cardinal  Vine 167,  168 

Catalpa    bignonoides,     184;    spe- 

ciosa 184 

Cassine  Berry 184 

Cedrus  Deodara 57,  60 

Centaurea 122 

Cerasus  caroliniana,  20, 35;  japon- 
ica  183 

Cercis  japonica 183 

Chamaxyparis  pisifera  plumosa,^5, 64 

Charleston 13 

Chaste  Tree 184 

Chattahoochee 17 

Cherry  Trees,  Carolina,  20;  Flow- 
ering  183 

Chimney  Bell  Flower 138 

China  Berry  Tree 184 

Chionanthus  virginica 180 

Chrysanthemum 102, 105,  118, 

122, 14^ 


198 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


Page 

Cinnamomum  Camphora 180 

Citrange 180 

Citrus  trifoliata 40,  180 

Clematis  paniculata 167 

Clover,  Bur,  177;  White 177 

Columbine 122,  133,  134,  138 

Concord 13 

Conifers Jt,56,  57,  59,  60,  63,  64 

Coral  Vine 159 

Coreopsis  lanceolata 140 

Cornflower 118 

Cornwallis  Oak,  The 190 

Cornus    florida    alba,    180,    182; 

C.  f.  rubra 183 

Cosmos 105 

Crape  Myrtle. 183,  187,  189 

Crataegus  coccinea,  180;  collina, 
180;  monogyna,  180;  pyracan- 
tha  Lalandii  (see  Pyracantha). 

Crocus.. 109 

Cross  Vine 164 

Cumberland 17 

Cupressus  Benthamii,  58;  C.  B. 
Knightiana,  58;  C.  funebris, 
61;    C.  sempervirens,  61;  pyra- 

midalis  royalii 56,  60,  Ql 

Cydonia 110,  152 

Cypress  Trees. 4^,  56,  58,  59,  60,  129 
Cypress  Vine 167 


D 

Daffodils 90,  109, 118, 122 

Dahlia 105 

Daisies,  108,  123, 185;  African..  .  .  91 

Darwin  Tulips 4 

Delphinium 14,  85,  122,  138 

Deutzia,   110,   154;    crenata,   152; 

gracilis 152 

Dianthus  plumarius 133 

Diervilla  florida 152 

Digitalis  gloxiniaeflora 138 

Dogwood,  pink,  183;  white 182 

Dolichos 167 

E 

Elseagnus 23 

Elder,  American 155 

Empress  Tree 184 

English  Rye  Grass 177 

Eriobotrya  japonica 23,  179, 188 

Euonymus  radicans 159, 170 


Page 

Euphorbia 31 

Evergreens,  Broad-leaved 19 

Exochorda  grandiflora 29,  152 

F 

Ficus  repens 159 

Fig,  Trailing,  159;  Tree 109 

Florida 14 

Flowering  Cherry,  183;  Peach,  183; 

Plum,  183;  trees,  138,  Willow.  .184 

Flowers  of  sulphur 125 

Forsythia,     110;     Fortunei,     152; 

suspensa,  152,  158;  viridissima.152 

Foxglove 138 

Fragrance 34 

Fringe  Tree 180 

G 

Gaillardia 89,  133,  136 

Gardenia  jasminoides  florida,  29, 

117;  G.j.  Fortunei 29,  117 

Gelsemium  sempervirens 163 

Georgia 14 

Gladiolus 123 

Golden  Bell,  152, 158;  Chain  Tree, 

183,  Glow,  105,  118;  Rain  Tree.183 

Grass  seed 171 

Greenbrier 160 

Gynerium 16 

Gypsophila  paniculata 39 

H 

Haw,  Black 183 

Hawthorn 19,20,26,  180 

Heavenly  Bamboo 26 

Hedera  algeriensis,  159;  Helix.  79,  159 

Hedge  plants 35 

Helianthus. 85,  111,  118,  122 

Hibiscus  syriacus 155 

Hillside  Thorn 180 

Holly 22,23,24: 

Hollyhocks 111,133 

Honeysuckle 152 

Hop  Vine 167 

Horse  Chestnut  Tree 180,  183 

Hudson 13,  17 

Humulus  japonicus 167 

Hyacinth,  84,  85,  90, 109, 118, 122; 
Hyacinth  Bean 167 


INDEX 


199 


Page 

Hydrangea,    110,    111,   112,    113; 

arborescens,     155;      monstrosa, 

155;    Otaksa,   155;    paniculata 

grandiflora.  111,  113,  117,  155; 

quercifolia 117 

Hypericum  Moserianum 117 

I 

Iberis  sempervirens 76,  122 

Ilex  aquifolium,  24;    cassine,  20, 

24;    cornuta,  24;    crenata,  22, 

24;  glabra,  20,  24;  opaca.  . .  .20,  24 

Inkberry 24 

Insecticides 126,  128,  131 

Ipomoea 167 

Iris,  97,  118,  121,  122;  germanica, 

145,      158;       hispanica,      145; 

Kaempferi 145,  158 

Italian  Rye  Grass 144,  172,  177 

Ivy,  Algerian,  106;    Boston,  163, 

166;  English 46,  US,  159, 164- 


J 

Jasmine,  Malayan,  163;  Star,  163, 
165;  Yellow 163 

Jasminum  nudiflorum,  88,  152, 
153, 158;  revolutum 155 

Jonquils .....109,118,  122 

Juniperus  communis,  43,  64;  vir- 
giniana 43,58,64 


K 

Kalmia  latifolia 27,28 

Kentucky  Blue  Grass 176,  177 

Kerosene  emulsion 128 

Kerria  japonica 152 

Kcelreuteria  paniculata 183 

Kudzu  Vine 167 


Laburnum  vulgare 183 

Lagerstroemia 117,  129,  183,  184 

Larkspur 107,  118,  122 

Laurel,     English,     28,    29,     115; 

Mountain 27,^5 

Laurocerasus 20,  21,  28 

Laurus  nobilis 28 

Laurustinus 24 

Lavender 117 

Lavandula  vera 117 

Lawns 144,  171, 175, 176, 178 


Page 
Ligustrum  amurense,  27,  35,  36, 

41,  43,  45,   79;    chinensis,  33; 

japonicum,    20,    33,    37,     184; 

lucidum,  20,33,  184;  nepalense, 

33;  ovalifolium,36;  Quihoui. .  .   33 

Lilac 152,187 

Lime-sulphur 126 

Liriodendron  tulipifera 183 

Locust,  Black 180 

Lolium   italicum,    172,   173,    177; 

perenne.  . 172,  177 

Lonicera  chinensis,  164;    fragran- 

tissima,  152;  sempervirens 164 

Loquat 20,  23,  179, 188 


M 

Magnolia    fuscata,    20;     gloriosa, 
20;    grandiflora,  20,  187;    Sou- 

langeana,  183, 186;  stellata 180 

Mahonia  japonica 21 

Maples,  Norway 38 

Marvel  of  Peru 85 

Massachusetts 18 

Medicago  arabis 177 

Medlar 20,  23,  179, 188 

Melia  Azederach,  184;   M.  A.  um- 

braculiformis 131,  184 

Mildew 125 

Mimosa 188 

Mohrodendron  carolinianum,  180; 

dipterum 180 

Moonflower.. 168 

Morning  Glories 85 

Mountain  Ash,  180;  Laurel,...  .27,  28 
Myrtle,  Crape,  123;  Trailing 79 


N 

Nandina  domestica ^^,27 

Narcissus 85,  109,  118,  122 

Nasturtium 85,  111,  167 

Nerium 20,  IIZ,  121 

New  Orleans 13 


O 

Oak,  Cornwallis,  190;  Live 32 

Olea  americana,  20;  fragrans,  .23,  179 

Oleander 29,  50,  113,  123, 121 

Oleaster  23 

Olive,  Tea,  23^  85;  Wild! . .' .  .' .'  .'26,  35 

Opoponax 180 

Opuntia 16,119 


200 


THE  BLOSSOM  CIRCLE  OF  THE  YEAR 


Page 

Oxydendron,  arboreum 180 

Oyster-shell  scale 128 


Pagoda  Tree 183 

Pansies 81,110,118,122 

Parasol  Tree 183 

Paulownia  imperialis 184 

Peach,  Flowering 87,  183 

Pear,  Flowering 183 

Pearl  Bush : 27,152 

Persica      chrysanthemum,      183; 

vulgaris 183 

Peony 139 

Periwinkle 7^,169 

Perennials 137 

Pests 123 

Petunias 86, 107,  111,  118,  122 

Philadelphus,  110;  coronarius 152 

Phlox,  86,  105,  106,  110,  113,  118, 
122,  123,  134;  paniculata.  .133,  134 

Photinia  serrulata 179 

Physostegia  virginiana 89 

Pinks 133 

Pinus  densiflora,  62;    excelsa,  56, 

62;  koraiensis 62 

Pittosporum  Tobira 29 

Plant  lice 69,126,131 

Platycodon  grandiflora 138 

Poa  pratensis. 176,177 

Polygonum  marginatum 168 

Pomegranates 113,  155 

Poplars 129 

Poppies,  110;  Iceland,  133;  Shir- 
ley  9Q,98 

Potassium  sulphide 126 

Pride  of  India  Tree 131 

Privet. .  .  .27,  33, 35, 36, 37, 41, 43, 

45,  79,  184 

Pruning. .....; 109 

Prunus  caroliniana 40 

Punica 110,155 

Pyracantha    coccinea    Lalandii,    19, 

20,26 
Pyrus  floribunda 152 

Q 

Quercus 32 

Quince,  Japanese 112,  152 


Ramblers,  Baby 129 

Red  Top 177 


Page 
Retinospora     plumosa,     59,     65; 

squarrosa  Veitchii 65 

Rhamnus  catharticus 40 

Rhododendron 33 

Rhodotypos 152 

Rhus    aromatica,    155;     Cotinus, 

155,  184;  michauxi 155 

Robinia  pseudacacia 180 

Rosa  de  Montana 159 

Rosa  laevigata,  82;  rugosa 73 

Rose  garden,  Making  a,  75;   view 

of 71,78 

Rose  of  Sharon 155 

Roses,  Baby  Rambler,  i^5;  Cher- 
okee, 66,  82,  83;  Climbing,  66, 
68,  125,  160;  old-fashioned,  67; 
Polyantha,  77;  hybrid..  ..67,  69,  72 

Rudbeckia 105,  118,  122 

Rust 125 

Rye  Grass,  English,  177;  Italian.  144, 
172,  177 

S 

Salvia.  .85,  86,  106,  111,  113, 118,  122 

Sambucus  canadensis 155 

Savannah 17 

Scale,  Oyster-shell 128 

Service  Tree 180 

Shasta  Daisy 185 

Shrubs,  deciduous,  151;  ever- 
green   19,  35 

Silver  Bell  Tree 180 

Smilax,  Bonanox,  160;  Wild 160 

Smoke  Tree 155, 184 

Snowball \U2,157 

Snowdrop,  85,  109, 118;  tree 180 

Snow  Garland 39 

Sophora  japonica 183 

Sorbus  americana 180 

Sourwood  Tree 180 

South  Carolina 18 

Spanish  Bayonet 16,  30, 103 

Spiraea,  110, 155;  Reevesiana,  152; 
Thunbergii,    27,    37,    39,    129', 

Vanhouttei 152 

Sprays. . . .  124,  125,  126,  128,  130, 131 

Sterculia  platanifolia 183 

Sweet  Peas. ...  110, 146,  147, 149,  150 

Sweet  William 111,133 

St.  John's  Wort 117 

St.  Augustine's  Grass 177 

Stenotaphrum  dimitiatum 177 


INDEX 


201 


Page 

Sumac 155 

Syringa,  110,  152;    japonica,    181, 
187;  vulgaris 152 

T 

Tamarix  plumosa 128 

Tea  Olive 23,85,179 

Tea  Plant,  Assam 23 

Tecoma  radicans 167 

Texas 14 

Thea  Bohea 23 

Thorn,  Hillside 180 

Thuya 65 

Trifolium  repens 172,  176,  177 

Trumpet  Flower,  164;  Vine 167 

Tulip  Tree 183 

Tulips 90,  109 

U 

Umbrella  Tree 185 

V 

Varnish  Tree 183 

Verbena 85,86,111 

Veronica 89,  122 

Viburnum  plicatum,  152;  rufidu- 
lum,  183;  Tinus 24 


Page 

Vinca  major,  79;  minor 115 

Vines 159 

Viola  cornuta 81,  121,  122 

Violets 85,  90,  101,  118 

Virgilia  lutea 180 

Virginia 14,  18 

Virginia  creeper 162,  163 

Vitex  Angus-castus 184 

W 

Weigela 152 

Whale  oil  soap 126 

White  Clover 172,  176,  177 

White  Fringe  Tree 180 

Wild  Olive 20,5^ 

Willow,  Flowering 184 

Wistaria  chinensis 163 


Yellow  Wood. 180 

Yucca  aloifolia,  16,  30;    filamen- 
tosa,  30, 103]  Treculeana 30 


Zinnia 86,  106,  111,  113,  118,  122 


qA  Suggestion 


ONE  of  the  joys  of  garcleuing  is  that  it  is  never  finished,  never  with- 
out new  interests  and  possibilities  that  come  to  light  not  only  in 
onr  own  gardens  but  also  in  those  that  we  maj^  chance  to  visit.  To  fully 
realize  these  possibilities,  however,  we  must  take  note  of  them,  remem- 
ber them,  compare,  contemplate  and  develop  them. 

The  following  pages  are  left  blank  so  that  you  can  make  such  gar- 
den notes  and  memoranda,  with  which  to  render  your  future  work  and 
study  more  enjoyable,  more  successful  and  more  profitable — for  your- 
self and  for  your  garden  brethren,  also.  If  their  use  should  lead  you 
into  the  habit  of  keeping  a  garden  diary  such  as  that  mentioned  in 
Chapter  IX,  so  much  the  better. 

(garden  ^^tes  and  <SMemordnda 


garden  TS[otes  and  (Memoranda 


Garden  Notes  and  Memoranda 


Garden  Notes  and  Memoranda 


garden  ^^tes  and  ^Memoranda 


Qarden  ^f^lotes  and  (Memoranda 


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